Melvyn "Deacon" Jones, born on December 12, 1943, in Richmond, Indiana, was an organist and trumpeter. In 1963, he co-founded Baby Huey & the Babysitters with Johnny Ross and Jimmy Ramey, becoming a notable live act in Chicago. After Ramey's death in 1970, Jones embarked on a solo career, collaborating with prominent musicians such as Curtis Mayfield, Freddie King, and John Lee Hooker. Notable albums include Let's Talk About the Blues (1987), Makin' Blues History (1994), and Jonesin' for Money (2002). Jones was named Keyboard Player of the Year by the Bay Area Blues Society and the South Bay Blues Awards in 1992. He published his autobiography, The Blues Man: 40 Years with the Blues Legends, in 2008. Jones passed away on July 6, 2017, at the age of 73 in Hollywood, California.
