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| Booker T. Jones to Appear at Malibu Arts Center on November 11  Booker T. Jones, founder and leader of Booker T. & the MGs, will appear at the Malibu Performing Arts Center on November 11. Booker T.'s intriguing marriage of R&B and pop sounds has its roots in the clubs and studios of Memphis in the late '50s and '60s. The son of a high school math teacher and a school secretary, Booker T. Jones was sneaking into Memphis clubs to play music by the time he was 14. Booker began working sessions at Stax Records in 1960 at age 16, introduced to the Stax team by high school pal David Porter. With guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Lewie Steinberg, and the late Al Jackson Jr. on drums, he formed the MG's.Booker T. and the MG's (with Duck Dunn replacing Steinberg on bass) were the studio house band of Memphis' Stax label during the 1960's, playing on records (and backing on stage) acts like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Eddie Floyd. They also found success as one of America's most readily identifiable instrumental groups. In 1962, when Booker was a senior in high school, the group cut "Green Onions, " which sold a million copies and was followed by six other Top 40 hits, including "Hip Hug-Her, " "Groovin, " "Soul-Limbo, " "Hang Em' High, " and "Time Is Tight." As a staff musician at Stax Records, Booker played on some of the most important records in the history of rhythm and blues music, including "Born Under A Bad Sign, " (written with William Bell), "Hold On I'm Coming, " "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, " "Try A Little Tenderness, " "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby, " and others. Booker played trombone on "Skinny Legs and All" by Joe Tex, and baritone sax on "Cause I Love You" by Rufus and Carla Thomas. From 1962 through 1966, in addition to working in the Stax rhythm section, Booker was attending Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Driving the 400 miles to Memphis on weekends, and flying from Indianapolis' airport for gigs, Booker finally earned the Bachelor of Music Education Degree, completing his senior recital on trombone. In the 1970's, as a record producer in Los Angeles, Booker not only put hits on the pop charts, he produced three of the pivotal records in the career of one of country music's biggest stars, Willie Nelson, including the multi-platinum selling Stardust album. Jones produced and arranged other hits on the West Coast, including Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" (Just As I Am) album, Rita Coolidge's "Higher and Higher" and "We're All Alone, " and Earl Klugh's "Magic In Your Eyes." In California, Booker played on albums by Bobby Darin, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan ("Billy The Kid"), Stephen Stills ("Love The One You're With"), and Barbara Streisand ("Evergreen"). It was during this period that Jones recorded five solo LP's for A&M, Epic, and MCA Record companies. In the eighties, Booker played on albums by Boz Scaggs, Soul Asylum, John Lee Hooker, and Kris Kristofferson. In 1992, Booker T. & the MG's were honored to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, serving as the house band for its legendary opening ceremonies concert in Cleveland, Ohio in 1995. Later the band received a Grammy for its single, "Cruisin', " and was presented with the Rhythm and Blues Association's Pioneer Award. After reforming in the mid-eighties for Atlantic Records' 25th Anniversary Concert, the MG's were the house band for Bob Dylan's famous Tribute Concert in 1991 at Madison Square Garden featuring George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Sinead O'Connor. In 1993, the band joined Neil Young for a successful tour of Europe and the United States. Since 1993, Booker has been presented with three Bammie Awards for outstanding keyboardist in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has scored films including Jules Dassin's Uptight, John Cassavetes' Opening Night, and Castle Rock Entertainment's Little Big League. Booker has contributed music to films such as Barfly, Get Shorty, White Men Can't Jump, and American Graffiti. At present, Booker is living in northern California with his wife Nan and three children, playing occasional dates with Booker T. and the MG's and with groups around the Bay Area. He is currently writing songs for a new solo album and is set to compose music for the upcoming Empress of the Blues, a movie on the life of Bessie Smith. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |