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Booker T. Jones

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
14

Gender
Male

Birthday
November 12, 1944 (81 years old)

Place of Birth
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

Booker T. Jones

Biography

Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr. (born November 12, 1944) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and arranger, best known as the frontman of the band Booker T. & the M.G.'s. He has also worked in the studios with many well-known artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, earning him a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement.

Booker T. Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 12, 1944. He was named after his father, Booker T. Jones Sr., who was named in honor of Booker T. Washington, the educator. Booker T. Jones, Sr. was a science teacher at Memphis High School, providing the family with a relatively stable, lower-middle-class lifestyle.

Jones was musically a child prodigy, playing the oboe, saxophone, trombone, double bass, and piano at school and organ at church. Jones attended Booker T. Washington High School, the alma mater of Rufus Thomas, and contributed with future stars like Isaac Hayes's writing partner David Porter, saxophonist Andrew Love of the Memphis Horns, soul singer/songwriter William Bell, and Earth, Wind & Fire's singer/songwriter Maurice White.

Jones's entry into professional music came at the age of 16 when he played baritone saxophone on Satellite (soon to be Stax) Records' first hit, "Cause I Love You", by Carla and Rufus Thomas. Willie Mitchell hired Jones for his band, in which Jones started on sax and later moved to bass. It was here that he met Al Jackson Jr., whom he brought to Stax. Simultaneously, Jones formed a combo with Maurice White and David Porter, in which he played guitar.

On March 1, 1995, Booker T. & the MGs won their first Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the song "Cruisin'". Jones still plays with the MGs and his own small combo called the Booker T. Jones Band. His current touring group includes Vernon "Ice" Black (guitar), Darian Gray (drums), and Melvin Brannon (bass).

Jones was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and was honored with a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement on February 11, 2007.

In 2007, Jones was also inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.

Known For

Acting

2023Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Shortas Self
2015Korlaas self
2013Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013as Self
2013Otis Redding: Soul Ambassadoras
2009Live from the Artists Denas Self
2007Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967as
2004Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festivalas Self
2002Soul Collection: Back to Staxas Himself
1994The Soul of Staxas Self
1993Late Show with David Lettermanas Self - Musical Guest
1987Shake! Otis at Montereyas Self - Booker T. & the MG's
1984Songwriteras Keyboard (Gilda's Band)
1976A Star Is Bornas The Speedway
1968Monterey Popas Self - Booker T. & the MG's (uncredited)

Production

1968Uptight...Original Music Composer
1968Uptight...Conductor