The 5 Jones Boys, originally called the Dixie Cotton Pickers from Carbondal… Read Full Bio ↴The 5 Jones Boys, originally called the Dixie Cotton Pickers from Carbondale, Illinois came to Los Angeles in the mid 1930s. Lead tenor Jimmy Springs was joined by William Hartley, Herman Wood, Louis Wood, and Charles Hopkins. They hooked up with Gene Autry and were on his National Barn Dance radio show and some of his tours. In a January 1936 newspaper article, they were characterized as "real rivals (not imitators) of the Mills Brothers." Later that year, they toured with Duke Ellington (as they did in 1937, after a stint at Los Angeles' Cotton Club). There's a photo of the 5 Jones Boys and Ellington in the December 31, 1936 California Eagle. It names the members as Wm. Bartley, Helmer Woods, Louis Woods, Charley Hopkins, and Jimmy Spring.
The 5 Jones Boys were occasionally part of a syndicated radio program called "The Laff Parade", hosted by Ken Niles. One reviewer of a 1934 performance thought that they were actually the Mills Brothers. They made several appearances from 1934 through 1937.
Some Los Angeles appearances: In late June 1936, they opened at the Famous Door, replacing Louis Prima. In December, they were with Duke Ellington, Ivie Anderson, and the 5 Hot Shots at the Paramount Theater. February 1937 found them at Frank Sebastian's Cotton Club (the blurb in the February 26, 1937 California Eagle said that they came from the "coal mines of Illinois"). By May, they'd been added to the cast of "Shuffle Along" at the Lincoln Theater.
They were in several films (those from 1936 were all released within three days of each other) and had a couple of records on Variety. In Ali Baba Comes To Town (an uncredited performance) they're part of a black cast that included the Plantation Boys, Richard Davis, David Patillo, guitarist Oscar Moore, Ormonde Wilson (a member of the Plantation Boys, whom we'll meet later on), and two future Delta Rhythm Boys: Clifford Holland, and Carl Jones. The chorus was directed by Leon René and Earl Dancer.
The 5 Jones Boys were occasionally part of a syndicated radio program called "The Laff Parade", hosted by Ken Niles. One reviewer of a 1934 performance thought that they were actually the Mills Brothers. They made several appearances from 1934 through 1937.
Some Los Angeles appearances: In late June 1936, they opened at the Famous Door, replacing Louis Prima. In December, they were with Duke Ellington, Ivie Anderson, and the 5 Hot Shots at the Paramount Theater. February 1937 found them at Frank Sebastian's Cotton Club (the blurb in the February 26, 1937 California Eagle said that they came from the "coal mines of Illinois"). By May, they'd been added to the cast of "Shuffle Along" at the Lincoln Theater.
They were in several films (those from 1936 were all released within three days of each other) and had a couple of records on Variety. In Ali Baba Comes To Town (an uncredited performance) they're part of a black cast that included the Plantation Boys, Richard Davis, David Patillo, guitarist Oscar Moore, Ormonde Wilson (a member of the Plantation Boys, whom we'll meet later on), and two future Delta Rhythm Boys: Clifford Holland, and Carl Jones. The chorus was directed by Leon René and Earl Dancer.
My Gal Mezzanine
The 5 Jones Boys Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'My Gal Mezzanine' by these artists:
Cab Calloway Have you seen the cute and keen Baby sweet as a…
Cab Calloway & His Orchestra Have you seen the cute and keen Baby sweet as a…
Cab Calloway and His Orchestra Have you seen the cute and keen Baby sweet as a…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The 5 Jones Boys:
Mr. Ghost Goes to Town Who's there, who's there? Up there on the stairs Beware, bew…
Mr.Ghost Goes To Town Boy, don′t you go in there Come outa there, boy Don't you…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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PrimordialMarmoreal
It sounds like they even got the "hand trumpets" spot on like The Mills Brothers! Great upload as usual :D
ptm51
Great!!!
C Porter
Aw Nice! Awesome sound on Helen Oakley's Variety label. Sounds so much like The Mills Brothers.
C Porter
@Austin Casey if they would have got on the charts, they probably could have outed them. Since by 1937 they had been somewhat "written off" But in '38 they would emerge once again with Sixty Seconds which is probably my favorite Mills Brothers song, if not in the top 5
Austin Casey
C Porter I think they sound like a “hotter” version of the Mills Bros on this one. They actually did a few Mills Bros tunes with identical arrangements. I think they’re intention was to out Mills Bros the Mills Bros. Lol
Дмитрий Соколов
потрясающий вокал
G18
Excellent
Doctor Wasabi
That some good vocals
Steve Sewall
unbelievably good. what a surprise. endlessly inventive.
krobigraubart
Great, many thanks Austin!