The Jones Girls
The Jones Girls were a female R&B trio of sisters from Detroit, Michigan. They first recorded for GM Records in 1968, then recorded for Philadelphia International Records with Gamble & Huff.
History
The Jones Girls consisted of sisters Brenda, Valorie and Shirley Jones. They served as backup singers for Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, and Le Pamplemousse. They worked with Diana Ross from 1975-78 and were the backup singers on Linda Clifford's 1978 album If My Friends Could See Me Now.
Their biggest hit was "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else". The song broke the Billboard Magazine Top 40 at #38 in May 1979. The song was also a Top 5 R&B hit.
An additional hit followed in 1980, with the single "I Just Love The Man", charting at #9 in January 1981. The less successful "Nights Over Egypt" (released in 1981, charting at R&B #23 in 1982), is currently a cult classic that receives more airplay on urban radio stations than their previous bigger hits.
After the release and failure of their fourth U.S. album, On Target, lead singer Shirley Jones pursued a solo career and had a #1 R&B hit on Billboard with "Do You Get Enough Love", from her top-ten debut album Always in the Mood. "Do You Get Enough Love" was written by Bunny Sigler who also produced it with Kenny Gamble [1]. In 2007, Shirley released an album Ladies Night Out together with Jean Carn and Cherrelle, on CD and DVD.
"Who Can I Run To", from the band's self-titled 1979 debut album, was covered by Xscape in 1995. Their cover version became a number #1 R&B and #8 Pop hit.
Valorie Jones died on December 2, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 45.[2]
Discography
Albums
- 1979: The Jones Girls (Philadelphia International) - US Pop #50, US R&B #8
- 1980: At Peace With Woman (Philadelphia International) - US Pop #96, US R&B #7
- 1981: Get as Much Love as You Can (Philadelphia International) - US Pop #155, US R&B #25
- 1983: On Target (RCA) - US R&B #59
- 1984: Keep It Coming (Philadelphia International)
- 1992: Coming Back (ARP)
- 2000: The Best of the Jones Girls (Capitol)
Singles
- 1979: "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" - US Pop #38, US R&B #5, US Dance #12
- 1979: "We're a Melody" - US R&B #78
- 1980: "I'm at Your Mercy" - US R&B #77
- 1980: "I Just Love the Man" - US R&B #9
- 1980: "Dance Turned into a Romance" - US R&B #22
- 1981: "(I Found) That Man of Mine" - US R&B #20
- 1981: "Nights Over Egypt" - US R&B #23
- 1983: "On Target" - US R&B #43
- 1983: "2 Win U Back" - US R&B #47
References
- ^ Bronson, Fred (1993). The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits. Billboard Books:Watson-Guptill Publications, New York. p. 368.
- ^ Valorie Jones at Find a Grave