Jones, Etta (1928-2001)

Born in Aiken, SC but never lived there – grew up in New York; a singer who started her professional debut at age 16 on the road with Buddy Johnson’s band in 1948; debuted on record with Barney Bigard’s pickup band (1944) singing “Evil Gal Blues” which became a hit for Dinah Washington, and recorded other songs (1946-47) for RCA, and many for Prestige (1960-65); performed with J.C. Heard (1948), Earl Hines Sextet (1949-52), and toured Japan with Art Blakey (1970); her version of “Don’t Go to Strangers” (1960) was a big hit; she performed/recorded with South Carolina native and tenor saxophonist, Houston Person; she also free-lanced and had several recordings under her own name – her last was Etta Jones Sings Lady Day; she passed away from complications of cancer in 2001 in Mt. Vernon, NY.

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Selected Albums