Singer-songwriter David Lynn Jones will headline the 5th Annual Friends in Great Places concert at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville on March 9, 2013.
This year’s concert, once again sponsored by WRD Entertainment and the UACCB Foundation, will also feature Danny Dozier and Friends. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Kids’ College Summer Enrichment Program.
Jones, an American country music singer-songwriter, was born in Bexar, Ark. Between 1987 and 1994; he released four studio albums and charted four singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart. His highest charting single, “Bonnie Jean (Little Sister),” peaked at number 10 in 1987. As a songwriter, Jones wrote “Living in the Promiseland” a number one hit for Willie Nelson. It was also recorded by Joe Cocker.
Jones began performing in clubs around his Arkansas hometown while still a teenager. For a while during the late ’60s, he worked as a car salesman but quit in 1970 to become the bass player for Freddy Morrison and the Bandana Blues Band and to hone his songwriting skills. He tried to sell his songs in Music City (Nashville, Tenn.), but he wasn’t successful; by 1975, he was barely making a living as a session musician in Houston, Texas.
Things improved for Jones in 1976 when he provided Randy Corner with “Heart Don’t Fail Me now,” which became a top 40 hit. Later, with the help of producer Ritchie Albright, Jones made a demo tape for Mercury Records. He played every instrument but the saxophone on the tape, which eventually made its way to Willie Nelson, who recorded Jones’ song “Living in the Promiseland.” The song went straight to number one on the country charts.
Jones then released his debut album, “Hard Times on Easy Street” (Mercury, 1980). Albright produced the album and also helmed 1989s glossier, pop-oriented follow up, “Wood, Wind and Stone.” Jones jumped to Liberty for 1992s Mixed Emotions, which he recorded in his studio at his home in Bexar. With the Nashville sheen of the first two records removed, Jones could concentrate on his songs and let his personal style show through. He followed the album with “Play by Ear” in 1994.
Since 1985, Jones has written songs for the Nashville publishing house Blue Water Music. He stayed with the company until 1998 and has continued to work as a producer for other artists at his Alamo Studios in Bexar. Jones currently lives in north Arkansas and continues to write songs, perform and record.
Not to break tradition, also performing on the show will be local musicians who have been on each previous Friends in Great Places concerts – Tim Crouch, Gary Rounds, Brad Apple, Brandon Apple, Pam Setser and special guest Charlie Chalmers on saxophone. Ken Loggains will play drums and percussion and local musician Mike Foster will be featured on keyboards.
Playing in the David Lynn Jones band will be his wife Illa, percussion; Jerry Bone bass; Dennis Horton, guitar; and Chuck Young, vocals and guitar.
The show starts at 7:30 and will last around 2 hours. Tickets are $10. They can be purchased at the Batesville Daily Guard, at both Centennial Bank locations in Mountain View, Citizens Bank, First Community Bank, Liberty Bank, Southern Bank, UACCB and WRD Entertainment.
