Introduction
Billy Jones (November 20, 1945—June 10, 1982) was an American soul/funk singer, songwriter, and producer. He worked in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and his hits were popular in Suriname and The Antilles also (both Dutch colonies.)
His long-time collaborator in Amsterdam was Surinamese trumpeter/musician Stan Lokhin, with whom he directed and did music arrangements for various Dutch artists 500.
Life and career
Billy Jones was born William Oran Jones in Denison, Texas, on November 20, 1945, to Dave and Emma June Jones. His mother was a popular gospel singer who appeared regularly in Church and on TV and radio. Inspired by his mother, Jones got his start in music at a young age, singing his first public solo in church at the age of eight. Within a year, he appeared on television singing a duet with a girlfriend. He also sang for a year with a local music group called "The Skylarks".
He won many awards for singing in high school competitions.
When he was 17, Jones joined the U.S. Army and toured the United States as a member of the Army Air Defense Command Choral Group for one year. The group performed in high schools, universities, and Army posts and appeared on various national TV shows including The Bell Telephone Hour and Ed Sullivan Show.
After serving one year in the United States, Jones was stationed in Germany. While living in Germany, he regularly traveled to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, where he made many friends.
After his discharge, Jones returned to the United States, where he stayed five days before deciding to return to Amsterdam. In 1968, Jones emigrated to Amsterdam and worked as a quality controller at Schick Razor Plant for two years. He also performed at local bars in his free time. His singing skills were noticed and he was asked to join a band to sing in nightclubs on the weekend. On one of those nights, he performed with Surinamese-born Dutch singer Oscar Harris's band The Twinkle Stars. Another singer who performed with Jones that evening was a fellow American singer Archie Bell. After the performance, Jones was recruited by The Twinkle Stars as a lead singer, replacing Ruud Seedorf.
Working with The Twinkle Stars, Jones recorded eight singles and two albums in the following years. Three of the singles made the Dutch Top 40, and four reached number 1 on the charts in the Dutch Colonies (Surinam, The Antilles). In 1970, he was on the recordings of Love Is Gonna Rain On You and Funky, Monkey Monkey (Catfish Records).
Jones left The Twinkle Stars in 1973; he was succeeded by 17-year-old singer Humphrey Campbell.
In 1974, Jones produced his funk/soul album Birds Of The Sea. He sang and played the guitar alongside Imro Wielkens (bass); Stan Lokhin (conductor); Humphrey "Sancho" Liew (congas, timbales, cowbell, guitar); Ricardo Wouden, Glen Beeldsnijder and Eugene Bona (drums); Dick Bakker (mixer); Glen Lont (organ); Leon Belle (piano); Raymon Thompson (saxophone); Fokke Beekman (strings); Imro Wielkens, Fritz "Perez" Zevenburgen (tambourine); Peter Van Eck (timpani); Dick Sleeman (trombone); and Stan Lokhin, Herman Ristie (trumpet). The same year, he recorded "Win Your Love" / "King Of The World" at Dureco Studio in Weesp, the Netherlands, for Blue Elephant Records.
In 1975/76, Jones was the lead singer of the funk group Solat with Dutch-Antillian and Surinam musicians. Solat released two singles in 1976—"You're Gonna Miss Me" and "I'll Be Around". The band worked as a backing band for Dutch jazz/pop saxophonist Candy Dulfer (daughter of jazz saxophonist Hans Dulfer).
In 1979, Jones composed "Going Back Home" and "It's Time To Get Funky" with The Stan Lokhin Band for Dutch label Stan Pico Records.
In 1979, the former members of The Twinkle Stars reconnected to form a new funk/soul band Thunderstorm. The band consisted of the members Stan Lokhin, Glenn Gaddum Sr., Alfred Ommen, Benito Darthuizen, Billy Jones, Edgar Darnoud, Ernie Anches, Eugene Bona, Herman Ristie, and Imro Wielkens. Jones remained with Thunderstorm until his untimely death in 1982. In 1981, they released an eponymous album for Dureco Benelux Records.
Notable singles with Thunderstorm:
- "Red Light's On" (1979)
- "Here's To You" (1981)
- "Funky Grand Pa" (1981)
Death
Jones died in Amsterdam on June 10, 1982, at age 36.