Dennis Jones

Biography

Dennis Jones is an American blues rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter born in 1958 in Monkton, Maryland.[1][3] Inspired by his parents' record collection featuring B.B. King and Bobby Bland, Jones received a guitar at age 13 and began playing in local bands while still in his teenage years.[3] After high school, he joined the military and was stationed in Germany, where he developed his musical style playing with various blues and R&B bands.[2][4] He later relocated to Los Angeles, where he balanced a day job as an elevator technician with weekend performances, eventually forming the band Blackhead before transitioning to lead his own blues rock ensemble.[3][7]

Jones' professional recording career began in 2003 with his debut solo album Falling Up, released on his own label, Blue Rock Records.[1][3] A significant milestone came in 2004 when he won first place at the 20th International Blues Challenge as guitarist with Zac Harmon & the Mid-South Revue.[1][3] Throughout his career, Jones has released eight albums, with notable releases including Passion For The Blues (2006), Pleasure & Pain (2009), Soft Hard and Loud (2020), and About Time (2024).[1][3] His track "Deep Blues" from his debut album was featured in the 2006 film Sea of Fear.[1][3]

Jones has established himself as a respected figure in contemporary blues music, opening for legendary artists including Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, and Dick Dale.[3] In 2023, he received the Bobby Rush Entertainer Award for Outstanding Musicianship Performing Traditional Blues at the Jus' Blues Music Awards in Tunica, Mississippi.[2][3] His eighth album About Time earned a 2025 Blues Music Award nomination for Best Blues Rock Album.[2] Jones' musical approach seamlessly blends vintage blues-rock elements with contemporary songwriting, addressing modern social issues while maintaining deep roots in traditional blues traditions.[6]

Fun Facts

• Jones originally asked his parents for a drum set at age 13 but received a guitar instead—a decision that shaped his entire musical career.[3]
• He spent his late teens living and performing in Europe, particularly Germany, where he played with various blues and R&B bands before returning to the United States.[2][4]
• Jones worked as an elevator technician for many years while touring part-time with his band, traveling great distances for performances, until a layoff allowed him to pursue music full-time.[7]
• His musical influences include guitar legends Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Billy F. Gibbons, whose styles significantly shaped his blues-rock approach.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• B.B. King - Early influence through parents' record collection (Recordings in parents' collection) [Childhood/early teens]
• Bobby Bland - Early influence through parents' record collection (Recordings in parents' collection) [Childhood/early teens]

Key Collaborators

• Zac Harmon - Played guitar with Zac Harmon & the Mid-South Revue; won International Blues Challenge together (Live at Babe and Ricky's Inn (2002), The Blues According To Zacariah) [Early 2000s]
• Cornelius Mims - Bass player and co-producer (Soft Hard and Loud (2020)) [2020]
• Brian O'Neal and the BusBoys - Played lead guitar (BusBoys performances) [2001-2003]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia