Rufus "Speedy" Jones (May 27, 1936 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz drummer from Charleston, South Carolina.
Rufus "Speedy" Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones in a 1964 advertisement | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 27, 1936 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | April 25, 1990 (aged 53) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1950s–1990 |
| Formerly of | Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Red Allen, James Brown |
Starting out on trumpet, Jones switched to drums at the age of 13. He worked with Lionel Hampton in 1954 before being drafted.[1][2] While stationed at Fort Jackson, Jones played in a quintet every Saturday night at the black United Service Organization clubhouse in Columbia. He later played with Red Allen and Maynard Ferguson's Orchestra (1959–1963). He led a quintet from 1963 to 1964, producing for Cameo Records his only album as a leader. Jones worked with Count Basie and Woody Herman in the mid-1960s and backed that up with Duke Ellington in the latter half of the decade.[3]
Jones (various accounts concur) was forced to put down his sticks in 1973, due to the debilitating effects of early-onset arthritis. He died in 1990, after working as a porter at Caesar’s Palace Casino in Las Vegas.
Rufus' son, Lebrew, was sentenced in 1989 to 22 years to life for the murder of Michaelanne Hall, a prostitute in New York City. He was released on parole on November 19, 2009 after significant doubts were raised about his guilt.[4]
Discography
editAs leader
edit- Five on Eight (Cameo, 1964)
As sideman
editWith Count Basie
- Big Band Scene '65 (Roulette, 1965)
- Arthur Prysock/Count Basie (Verve, 1966)
- Basie's Beat (Verve, 1967)
With Duke Ellington
- The Far East Suite (RCA Victor, 1967)
- Latin American Suite (Fantasy, 1968)
- 70th Birthday Concert (Solid State, 1970)
- New Orleans Suite (Atlantic, 1971)
- The London Concert (United Artists, 1972)
- The Pianist (Fantasy, 1974)
- The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse (Fantasy, 1975)
- The Ellington Suites (Pablo, 1976)
- Up in Duke's Workshop (Pablo, 1979)
With Maynard Ferguson
- Let's Face the Music and Dance (Roulette, 1960)
- Maynard '61 (Roulette, 1961)
- Double Exposure with Chris Connor (Atlantic, 1961)
- Two's Company with Chris Connor (Roulette, 1961)
- "Straightaway" Jazz Themes (Roulette, 1961)
- Maynard '62 (Roulette, 1962)
- Si! Si! M.F. (Roulette, 1962)
- Maynard '63 (Roulette, 1962)
- Message from Maynard (Roulette, 1963)
- Maynard '64 (Roulette, 1963)
- The New Sounds of Maynard Ferguson (Cameo, 1963)
- Come Blow Your Horn (Cameo, 1963)
With others
- Al Grey, Shades of Grey (Tangerine, 1965)
- Lionel Hampton, Lionel Hampton Big Band (Clef, 1955)
- Lionel Hampton, Lionel Hampton (Amiga, 1976)
- Woody Herman, Woody Herman live at Newport Recorded Sunday 3 July 1966. Billed as Dr. Rufus 'Speedy' Jones (Jazz Band Records 1994 EBCD2118-2)
- Johnny Hodges, Triple Play (RCA Victor, 1967)
References
edit- ^ Klauber, Bruce (August 2011). "Rufus "Speedy" Jones". Modern Drummer. md381cs (August 2011): Page 90. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Wolfson, Harvey. "HARVEY WOLFSON AND HIS GRETSCH DRUMS". Gretsch Drums. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Barnelle, Robert (1983). "Rufus "Speedy" Jones". Modern Drummer. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Pertel, John. "Waiting 22 years for this moment". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved 4 May 2011.