Casey Jones (musician)

Casey Jones (July 26, 1939 – May 3, 2017) was an American drummer who recorded with blues artists such as Albert Collins, appearing on his '' Frostbite'' and '' Ice Pickin''' albums and Johnny Winter appearing on Winters '' Serious Business'', '' Guitar Slinger'', '' True to the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story'' albums. He is also a singer and record producer.

Background

He was born in Nitta Yuma, Mississippi on July 26, 1939. He was raised in Greenville. In 1956 he moved to Chicago to live with his sister. It was here that his sister and her husband bought him his first drum set. He had his first gig in 1956 from which he made $5.

In 1961 he married Bernice who had come to hear his group play. Prior to being married by the minister they had attempted to get married by a priest who refused to marry them because he said they wouldn't last six months as Bernice was white and Casey was black. Casey and Bernice raised their family in Morgan Park with a household filled with cats, dogs, fish and birds. He was also fond of big dogs and in particular a huge gray Great Dane called Soldier.

Friends of Casey will remember him through his music and his cheery disposition.

Jones also had an occasional day job driving a bus.'' Chicago Sun Times'', 17-05-2017
News, Blues drummer Casey Jones dies; played with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf - Maureen O'Donnell
/ref>

Career

In the early 1960s he recorded with Earl Hooker, A.C. Reed, McKinley Mitchell, and Muddy Waters.
As a session drummer he has worked with artists such as Lou Rawls, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter.'' Chicago Tribune'', March 26, 1993
On Track With Triple Blues Threat Casey Jones by Bill Dahl
/ref> For six years he was a member of Albert Collins's band as his drummer. According to Maureen O'Donnell of the '' Chicago Sun Times'' and ''Living Blues'' contributor Justin O'Brien, Jones was a talented singer, an excellent R&B singer.

After his time with Albert Collins, Jones went to concentrate on his singing and fronting his own band. In 1983, he had the album ''Still Kickin' ''released on his own Airwax label. In 1987, another album ''Solid Blues'' was released on the Rooster Blues label. Between 1993 and 1995, he had two more albums released - ''The Crowd Pleaser'' and ''I-94 On My Way to Chicago''. Both were released on Airwax.

Death

Jones was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died on May 3, 2017 in Chicago. In addition to his wife Bernice and three children, he was survived by four sisters.

Discography

Solo

* Casey Jones - ''Still Kickin
* Casey Jones - ''Solid Blue''
* Casey Jones - ''The Crowd Pleaser''
* Casey Jones = ''I-94 On My Way to Chicago''

Appearances (selective)

* Albert Collins - ''Frostbite''
* Lonnie Brooks - ''Deluxe Edition''
* Johnny Winter - ''Guitar Slinger''Alligator websit
Johnny Winter Guitar Slinger
/ref>

References

External links

Casey Jones Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2013)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Casey
American drummers
1939 births
2017 deaths
Musicians from Mississippi
People from Sharkey County, Mississippi
American blues drummers