1924 - 1975
Ralph Jones – The organist at Mahalia Jackson's side
Ralph Jones was a young, slim organist with a gentle face and a neat mustache, whose musical journey took him from a small church in Chicago straight to the vibrant center of gospel music alongside Mahalia Jackson.
He began his career in a small church on 51st State Street in Chicago, where he played for a preacher named Prophet Wheeler. This time in a smaller congregation laid the foundation for his musical abilities, especially on the organ.
The first encounter with Mahalia Jackson came as a surprise.
Jodie, one of Mahalia's employees, noticed Jones and approached him to recruit him for Mahalia. The news took Jones by surprise and clearly overwhelmed him, as evidenced by his exclamation, “I can't believe it! I can't believe it!” His attitude proved to be extremely fortunate, as he joined Mahalia Jackson's ensemble “just in time.” In Mahalia Jackson's band, Ralph Jones took on the role of organist and played the Hammond organ. His talent on the keys was an integral part of the band's sound. He was the organist for the “CBS Radio Mahalia Jackson Show,” which was broadcast live from Chicago and thus accessible to a wide audience.
The Fall-Jones Ensemble
Together with Mildred Falls, he formed the rhythmic and harmonious backbone of their performances. The “Falls-Jones Ensemble.” Their musical interaction was characterized by a special vitality and excitement. Although Mahalia Jackson was known for her spontaneity and rarely performed a song the same way twice, which could cause scheduling problems in the rigid confines of network radio, Ralph and Mildred had a deep understanding of her songs and musical style. They were able to follow her intuitively, especially in those moments when the “spirit took over.”
Ralph Jones was the organist on Mahalia Jackson's “first Columbia recordings” and thus contributed significantly to her early commercial success. Beyond his musical role, he also took on practical tasks. He created and managed cue sheets with the song lyrics for Mahalia, which she affectionately, or perhaps somewhat mockingly, referred to as her “idiot sheets.” He also took care of Mahalia's needs in the studio, bringing her food and coffee before performances, and was thus an important part of her immediate working environment. During recording sessions for orchestral arrangements, he accompanied Mahalia and Bill Russell to the CBS studio to record working tapes with vocals and piano. During the collection after Mahalia's solos, he provided musical accompaniment, with Mahalia often calling him “boy.”
Part of the family
Ralph Jones was an integral part of Mahalia's inner circle and traveling entourage. He accompanied her to numerous events and performances. One notable event was an organ concert he gave at the Alpha and Omega Church in Detroit in 1952, which drew a crowd of more than 3,000 people, underscoring his growing reputation as an organist. Interestingly, it was at this concert that he hinted to Pastor Zolia Robinson about his desire to enter the “show business world.”
The dynamics in Mahalia Jackson's environment were not always easy. Although Ralph Jones supported Mahalia musically, she could sometimes be harsh, abrupt, and even hurtful toward him, reducing him to tears. Studs Terkel speculated that Mahalia may not have been aware of the pain she caused.
He also contributed to the musical arrangement and once expressed concerns about whether the lively character of the Halloran Quartet's pieces would harmonize with the dignified tone of Mahalia's own performances. Mahalia Jackson also entrusted him with personal messages to pass on to other members of her team, such as Polly Fletcher.
A curious ending
In December 1975, Ralph Jones was found shot dead in his apartment. The murder was never solved.
A video with a special tribute
I discovered a very special video on YouTube. Idessa Malone Nelson pays tribute to his friend Ralph Jones in a very special way.
Idessa Malone Nelson (died 1987) was one of the first African-American women to own her own record label in the US. She has connections to the city of Lonoke, where she is also buried. There is a music and arts festival in Lonoke that is held in her honor. She worked as a producer, including for Rev. C. T. Nelson. Recordings she was involved in were made at Tone Studio in Chicago, Illinois.