Blue Monday: Fernando Jones

"You have blessed me with opportunities beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you for the encouragement in helping m stand tall in a male dominated profession, and always believing that one day my story will be heard.” _Paige Fernandez, Former Student of Jones’ Columbia College Chicago ’11 • Blues Ensemble All-Star “The Blues has always produced tormented souls. The eternal struggle with good, and what others may deem not so good. Nevertheless, one ends up having fun anyway. most of us want to go to Heaven, while daring to get there through hell.” _Fernando Jones Buddy Guy said that Fernando Jones is “one in a million trying to get to the bottom of the barrel of the Blues.” Jones was the last Chicago Bluesman that Willie Dixon mentored; Dixon asked him to “keep the Blues going.” The incomparable Fernando Jones is a 21st Century Renaissance man and the 2008 Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipient (education). Jones is one of the most complete Bluesmen and scholars of his generation with a focus on the next generation. He has been featured on the Travel Channel’s “America the Wright Way” Series (worldwide broadcast, seen in over 125 million households), Eric Clapton’s Crossroads DVD, ABC7’s Someone You Should Know. Dateline NBC, and was interviewed by the publisher of Downbeat Magazine for Musicians Studio. From books to films, from sound recordings to theatrical productions, his contributions to this American art form have been paramount. In Chicago, the Blues Capital of the world, he’s the go-to guy for all things Blues. His body of work speaks for itself. Jones has been recognized and celebrated by his peers and the press as being on the "cutting edge" of the Blues. He adds new blood and a new perspective to its legacy musically and culturally. As a composer, he has taken great pride in performing his original works publicly to help insure the evolutionary development of this movement. While refuting the many negative stereotypes that haunt this music, Jones is on a mission to show its beauty through academic implementations, lectures, and concerts globally. As a result, Jones' hands were photographed by National Geographic Magazine. His book, I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot, has been used as a resource by the likes of the Discovery Channel, Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, Living Blues Magazine, London Times, and Al-Jazeera. Radio stations such as ABC, BBC, CBS, CLTV, NBC, WTTW, NPR and WGN have celebrated him for his playing style and unique perspective on the status of Black music in America. Fernando Jones holds professional memberships with the National Alliance of Black School Educators, Real Men Cook, the American Federation of Musicians (Local 10-208); Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the Chicago Blues Festival Planning Committee, and is the founder of Blues Kids of America. Current Hot Projects: Published “How to Teach the Blues Effectively: Improving Literacy Through Music” for the Journal of Popular Music plus an abstract for RILM at Cornell University. Music Instrument Endorsements: Fender Musical Instruments, Jim Dunlop and Shure. Published: I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot; My Kid is a Star. And Yours?; Pedagogy & America’s Roots Music; and Blues Kids of America Activity Book. CDs: The Slaves Eat First; I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot (Soundtrack); Whodoyuvoodu?; Stranded; American Bluesman; Red, White & Blue You. Projects in the works / Released 2011: BluesLoops bass and guitar instructional video from JimDunlop.com (Instrument construction kit), the 20th Anniversary re-issue of “I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot” with audio and a new CD entitled Chississippi. FJ on Audio Tree Music Radio.