Jamie Jones: One-4-One

 

By Darrell Holmes LOS ANGELES, California -- Jamie Jones began making music in the halls of his hometown church at the age of three. Like so many R&B artist, Jones grew up on gospel hymns and found his love for music through the church. His gospel influences were prominently displayed in the 90’s pop vocal quartet, All-4-One. It’s been six years since All-4-One left Atlantic records, and Jones is now set to find his way back into the public conscious with the release of his first solo release.

Music starJamie Jones gives details and shares some time with the readers of 30 Below magazine.

His new CD harks back to Jones’ musical roots in the church. All-4-One had hits with tracks like “I Can Love U Like That”, now Jones’ has flipped that euphemistic letter onto another subject. The “U” on his new disc doesn’t refer to someone of the opposite sex. The “U” in tracks like “Love U Show”, “Worship U” and “Never Givin’ Up on U” are love songs for the Christian God. Jones avoids categorizing his album as gospel; he prefers Inspirational. “I just want people to hear something positive for a minute, but also explain to people what I believe that God has done for me,” claims Jones. However one categorizes it, “Jamie Jones” is not built for one market. The Inspirational album mixes in tracks which lyrically feature more traditional pop and R&B topics. “Don’t Stop,” a collaboration with Wayne Brady, is about the wounded heart of a cuckolding woman. Jones’ press kit features a marketing strategy for mainstream adult contempary radio as well as gospel and Christian Rhythmic stations.   Recording songs about his faith is nothing new for Jones. “All-4-One always included one song that was directly about God and Jesus and there was always a couple of other songs that were inspirational and uplifting,” states Jones. He sees his inspirational music as not only harking back to his own musical influences in the church, but to the genesis of R&B itself. Jamie Jones performs onstage for excited fans at B.B. Kings concert hall in California. “The beginning of R&B is really with gospel music. R&B artists always, whenever they get a chance, put one inspirational or message track on their record,” he said.   CONTINUE