James T. Jones IV (c. 1959/1960-March 13, 1996) was an American music journalist and critic who covered R&B, jazz, and hip hop music for USA Today.
Biography
editThe nephew of Betty Carter,[1] Jones was born in Detroit, Michigan. He received his master's degree from Western Michigan University, after which he went on to work for the Detroit News.[2] In addition to his work in music journalism, he became a successful bass guitarist in his own right. He began working for USA Today in 1988.[3] While working there, he interviewed such prominent musicians as Miles Davis, Anita Baker, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. He also did one of the last interviews that Eazy-E gave before the latter died of HIV/AIDS in 1995.[4] In 1994, he received a Contributor award for journalism from the International Association of African-American Music.[3] His article "Racism & Jazz" ran as the cover story in the March 1995 issue of the magazine Jazz Times.[5]
Death and legacy
editJones died on March 13, 1996, at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey, at the age of thirty-six. At the time of his death, he was working as music/television editor for USA Today.[6] USA Today itself reported that he had died of "an apparent heart attack".[3] Vibe, to which Jones had also been a contributor, subsequently stated that he had died of "a heart attack and kidney failure". The James T. Jones IV Music Scholarship Fund was established in his memory at Howard University,[7] and the International Association of African-American Music renamed one of its awards the James T. Jones IV Journalist Award in his honor.[8]
References
edit- ^ Seiler, Andy (September 28, 1998). "Jazz legend Betty Carter dies". USA Today.
- ^ Jackson, Joyce M.; Jones, James T. (1987). "Good News for the Motor City: Black Gospel Music in Detroit" (PDF). In Ed Brown (ed.). 1987 Festival of American Folklife. Smithsonian Institution. p. 83.
- ^ a b c "USA TODAY music critic James T. Jones IV dies". USA Today. March 18, 1996.
- ^ Gundersen, Edna (January 26, 1996). "Eazy E: Eternal enigma // Street rapper still a riddle after his death". USA Today.
- ^ Prince, Richard (April 30, 1995). "Journal-ISMS: FEW WRITING ON JAZZ". NABJ Journal. 13 (3). National Association of Black Journalists: 10.
- ^ Reynolds, J. R. (April 6, 1996). "The Rhythm and the Blues". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 14. p. 23. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ "Mail". Vibe. 4 (5): 32. June–July 1996. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ Daniels, Charlene (June 17, 1996). "R&B group reunites for a 2nd Edition". USA Today.
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