Bobby Jones (born September 18, 1938) is an American Gospel music singer television host, and radio broadcaster from Nashville, Tennessee and the host and executive producer of several cable television gospel music programs including the former Bobby Jones Gospel.
Bobby Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 18, 1939 Henry, Tennessee, United States |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | Christian: Urban contemporary Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer Radio host Television host |
Jones is referred to as the Ed Sullivan of gospel music.[1] He has given numerous gospel stars a platform to showcase their talents and has many trophies racked up at his Nashville home for his contributions to music.[2] Bobby Jones Gospel was canceled and went off the air in 2015.[3]
On radio, he is the host of The Bobby Jones Radio Show, a daily one-hour music program distributed by American Urban Radio Networks.[4] Previously, he hosted the weekly Bobby Jones Gospel Countdown which ran for more than a decade via AURN.
Early life and education
editJones was born September 18, 1938, in Henry, Tennessee, to Augusta Tharpe Jones and Jim Jones. He graduated with a B.S. in elementary education from Tennessee State University, an Ed.D. degree from Vanderbilt University and a Th.D. from Payne's Theological Seminary. Jones is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. Prior to embarking on his career as a musician, he taught in the St. Louis Public School system from 1959 to 1965; the Nashville Metropolitan Schools from 1966 to 1968; then subsequently became a textbook consultant for McGraw Hill and worked as an instructor at Tennessee State University from 1974 to 1986.[5]
Career
editTelevision and radio
editJones began his television career in 1976, when Nashville station WSM-TV (now WSMV) gave him a slot on the Sunday morning schedule with Nashville Gospel. That show continued for some 25 years, with a number of hosts. Jones launched his variety program, Bobby Jones Gospel, on BET in 1980.[6] His shows figure prominently in the channel's Sunday lineup, consistently ranking in the Top 5 of overall BET weekly programming. In addition to his work for BET, Jones produced and hosted a similar half-hour program for WDCN-TV (now WNPT), Nashville's public television outlet, during the early 1980s. The show was seen early Saturday evenings.[7]
Bobby Jones Gospel lays claim to offering the first prime exposure to several Gospel music solo artists and groups including Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, and Smokie Norful. Other artists featured have included Albertina Walker, Patti LaBelle, Dorothy Norwood, and Helen Baylor.[2]
Jones also hosts shows for other television networks including Bobby Jones' Next Generation on the Gospel Music Channel and Bobby Jones Presents for The Word Network. On radio, he hosts The Bobby Jones Radio Show, a daily one-hour music program distributed by American Urban Radio Networks. Jones previously hosted the weekly The Bobby Jones Gospel Countdown which ran for more than a decade on AURN. Jones also oversees the Nashville Super Choir.[5]
Books
editJones has authored two books. In 2000, his memoir, Make A Joyful Noise (St. Martins Press) included chapters about his tiff with the Winans family and his personal conversations with the Rev. James Cleveland. Both topics were controversial and caused some friction with Gospel's first family and Cleveland's music organization, the Gospel Music Workshop of America. In 1999, Jones released Touched By God (Simon & Schuster), a collection of stories by Gospel artists about how God has changed their lives.[8]
Awards
editIn 1984, he won a Grammy Award for the Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group with Barbara Mandrell for "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today."[9] Jones is also the recipient of a Dove Award,[10] three Stellar Awards, and a presidential commendation from President George W. Bush.[11][12][13]
Personal life
editJones has a wife, Ethel, and they have a daughter, Sonnetta.[8]
References
edit- ^ "The Indelible Career Of Gospel Innovator Dr. Bobby Jones". WPSU. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ a b "The Indelible Career Of Gospel Innovator Dr. Bobby Jones". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Thompson, Desire (2018-03-19). "Dr. Bobby Jones Explains Why He Walked Away From Hit Series, 'Bobby Jones Gospel'". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "The Bobby Jones Radio Show". AURN.com. AURN. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ a b The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Bobby Jones, April 24, 2014. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
- ^ "Bobby Jones & the New Life Singers". Malaco Music. 2021-03-16.
- ^ Hight, Jewly (19 March 2018). "The Indelible Career of Gospel Innovator Bobby Jones". NPR.
- ^ a b "Gospel Vocalist And Television Host Bobby Jones And His Soulful Journey As A Father". Dear Fathers. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "Grammy Winners Search", Grammy.com, Past Winners Search
- ^ "Bobby Jones Bio"[dead link] Bobby Jones Bio - BET.COM
- ^ "White House Archives" President Bush Recognizes Black Music Month
- ^ The New York Times - Bobby Jones one of 5 artists honored by President George W. Bush at White House in 2001
- ^ "Church Chat" - Dr. Bobby Jones Talk Show to return on BETJ, Bvbuzz.com