User:Aquidneck1/Sandbox

subst:AFC submission/submit JP Jones is an American folk singer/songwriter, composer and independent recording artist based in Newport, RI.

Best known for his literate, folk-influenced songwriting, Jones is a classically trained composer who grew up on the rock and soul music of the 1960s. He released his first album, John Paul Jones on the Columbia/Windfall label in 1973, and has since produced thirteen additional full-length CDs for Vision Company Records. Dubbed "America’s hidden lion of independent music" (Steven Francis, OpEdNews.com) and hailed "one of the best American singer-songwriters" (Kevin McCarthy, Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews), Jones has been self-recording and releasing original music since 1980.

Biography
Jones was born in Wakefield, Rhode Island in 1949. He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, and considered a career as a seminarian, attending Baptist Bible Seminary before moving on to Holyoke Community College and finally receiving a B.A. in music composition from Amherst College. Although religious imagery remains a focal point of his lyrics, in interviews Jones claims he’s “not a Christian and not not a Christian.” Self-taught as a youngster, Jones learned piano by memorizing note for note the soloist's part of Sergei Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto. In his teens he taught himself guitar by playing records at half speed and mimicking the parts. As an Independent Scholar at Amherst, Jones pursued a dual track of classical composition and songwriting. He was signed to the Columbia deal while he was still in school. The 1973 release followed, but was not commercially successful. In 1980 Jones founded the New York City based folk/rock band John Train (who took their name in tribute to the Phil Ochs’ pseudonym) and released and promoted two independently produced 45rpm singles. He started Vision Company Records in 1991 on which he’s released the bulk of his catalog. He’s also participated in a number of compilation projects including WWUH’s Folk Next Door Records and has collaborated with Les Sampou by co-writing the title track for her 2010 Lonesomeville release. A self-described musical “chameleon,” Jones continues to pursue musical expression across a variety of genres. His 2010 Revelation release features tracks originally included on other Vision Company CDs.

Discography

 * John Paul Jones LP Columbia/Windfall 1973
 * "Johnny Go Lightly" b/w "It'll All Blow Over" 7" single Strider Records 1980
 * "Don't Feel Guilty" b/w "Wendy" 12" single self released 1982
 * Voluntown CD Vision Company 1991
 * Broken Open CD Vision Company 1994
 * Bard CD Vision Company 1997
 * Angels on the Road CD Vision Company 1998
 * Broken Open - Reissue CD Vision Company 1999
 * Ashes CD Vision Company 1999
 * Back to Jerusalem CD Vision Company 2000
 * Salvation Street CD Vision Company 2001
 * Life and Death CD Vision Company 2003
 * Jeremiah CD Vision Company 2004
 * Thugs and Lovers CD Vision Company 2005
 * Magical Thinking CD Vision Company 2006
 * Revelation CD Vision Company 2010