Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

January 31, 1894 in Coalton, OH

Death

:

October 19, 1956 in Hollywood, FL

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Isham Jones was an American bandleader and composer who was born on January 31, 1894, in Coalton, Ohio. He was the son of a coal miner and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. Jones showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. He was largely self-taught and learned to play by ear. Jones began his professional music career in 1911 when he joined a traveling vaudeville show as a pianist. He later played in various dance bands and orchestras, including the Ben Bernie Orchestra and the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. In 1917, Jones formed his own band, the Isham Jones Orchestra, which quickly gained popularity. The Isham Jones Orchestra was known for its smooth, sophisticated sound and was one of the most popular dance bands of the 1920s and 1930s. Jones was a talented composer and arranger, and many of his compositions became hits. Some of his most famous songs include "It Had to Be You," "On the Alamo," and "I'll See You in My Dreams." Jones was also a pioneer in the use of the saxophone in dance bands. He was one of the first bandleaders to feature the saxophone as a solo instrument, and his use of the instrument helped to popularize it in jazz and dance music. In addition to his work as a bandleader and composer, Jones was also a successful businessman. He owned a music publishing company and a record label, which helped to promote his own music as well as the music of other artists. Jones continued to lead his orchestra throughout the 1930s, but his popularity began to wane in the 1940s. He disbanded the orchestra in 1946 and retired from music. Jones died on October 19, 1956, in Hollywood, California. Despite his relatively short career, Isham Jones left a lasting impact on the world of music. His smooth, sophisticated sound and innovative use of the saxophone helped to shape the sound of dance music in the 1920s and 1930s. His compositions continue to be performed and recorded today, and his influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary musicians.

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