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.

Casey Jones
Born	(1939-07-26)July 26, 1939 Nitta Yuma, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	May 3, 2017(2017-05-03) (aged 77) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Blues
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1950s–2017
Labels	Airwax Records

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.[1]

In 1961 he married Bernice who had came 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.[2]

Career

In the early 1960s he recorded with Earl Hooker, A.C. Reed, McKinley Mitchell, and Muddy Waters.[3] As a session drummer he has worked with artists such as Lou Rawls, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter.[4] For six years he was a member of Albert Collins’s band as his drummer.[4] 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.[2] 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.[5] 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.[6][7]

Death

Jones was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died on May 3, 2017 in Chicago.[8] In addition to his wife Bernice and three children, he was survived by four sisters.[9]

Discography

Solo

• Casey Jones - Still Kickin'[10]
• Casey Jones - Solid Blue[11]
• Casey Jones - The Crowd Pleaser
• Casey Jones = I-94 On My Way to Chicago

Appearances (selective)

• Albert Collins - Frostbite[12]
• Lonnie Brooks - Deluxe Edition[13]
• Johnny Winter - Guitar Slinger[14]

References

1. Minnesota Blues Live Review Casey Jones @ Famous Dave's April 16, 1999 by Ray Stiles
2. Chicago Sun Times, 17-05-2017 - News, Blues drummer Casey Jones dies; played with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf - Maureen O'Donnell
3. AllMusic - Casey Jones Artist Biography by Bill Dahl
4. The Chicago Tribune, March 26, 1993 - On Track With Triple Blues Threat Casey Jones by Bill Dahl
5. Chicago Tribune, March 26, 1993 - On Track With Triple Blues Threat Casey Jones by Bill Dahl
6. Discogs - Airwax Records
7. AllMusic - Casey Jones, (I-94) On My Way to Chicago
8. Chicago Blues Guide News Page shows Casey's recent death
9. Chicago Sun Times, 17-05-2017 - News, Blues drummer Casey Jones dies; played with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf - Maureen O'Donnell
10. Discogs Casey Jones (2) – Still Kickin'
11. Discogs Casey Jones (2) – Solid Blue
12. Alligator website Algert Collins Frostbite
13. Alligator website Lonnie Brooks Deluxe Edition
14. Alligator website Johnny Winter Guitar Slinger

External links

• Casey Jones Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2013)