Lloyd Jones

Lloyd Jones

Lloyd Jones is a US blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, performer and bandleader from Seattle, and he grows up in Portland after his family moves there soon after his birth in 1950. He works in blues, blues rock and related roots styles, and his writing often combines blues with funk and R&B elements.

Early life and musical background

Jones grows up in a musical household. His father plays Dixieland jazz records and tries to teach him trumpet when he is five, while his older brother plays drums and brings him into rehearsal situations and live work. Jones begins performing as a teenager and is taken to see artists including James Brown, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee before he finishes high school. He later says that these early experiences shape his approach to music and his interest in blues history.

Portland blues scene and early bands

In the early 1970s, Jones becomes the leader of Brown Sugar, one of Portland’s most popular blues bands. During that period the group works with touring musicians including Charlie Musselwhite, George “Harmonica” Smith, the Johnny Otis show, Big Mama Thornton and Big Walter Horton. Jones says this is the period when he first takes up guitar in earnest and learns from visiting players and performers.

Other collaborations and the Lloyd Jones Struggle

Across the years, Jones performs with Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Dr. John, John Hammond, Etta James, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy. In the 1980s he joins ex-Robert Cray singer and harmonica player Curtis Salgado in the band In Yo’ Face. After Salgado leaves in 1985 to join Roomful of Blues, Jones starts the Lloyd Jones Struggle as an outlet for his songwriting. The band name becomes the main vehicle for his work, and verified membership identifies it as Lloyd Jones Struggle.

Recordings and recognition

Jones records two albums for Criminal Records in the late 1980s: The Lloyd Jones Struggle and Small Potatoes. These releases win more than a dozen local music awards and receive attention from publications including Down Beat and Guitar Player. The exposure leads to extensive touring on the Miller Beer Sponsorship Program.

In 1993 he releases Lloyd “Have Mercy” Jones - Live! on Burnside Records. In 1995 he issues Trouble Monkey on Audio Quest, an album that draws strong praise and is later covered by Joe Louis Walker and Gatemouth Brown on the songwriting side. Jones’ songs are noted for their story-driven character, and his guitar style is described as economical and rhythmically complex.

Blind Pig Records and later profile

Jones later signs with Blind Pig Records, following a performance at the Santa Cruz Blues Festival. His Blind Pig release Love Gotcha presents his blend of funk, blues and R&B with horn-led arrangements and a Memphis-influenced feel. He also continues to work as a mainstay on the West Coast circuit and performs in places ranging from New Orleans to Canada and the Caribbean.