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My parents, Reverend Raymond D. Jones and Sister Fern Jones, were Pentecostal ministers and musicians, very young and crazy in love with each other and committed to their ministry. During the 1950's, the music which had always been a bond between them became an even more powerful force and by the end of the decade, it would change everything in their lives. |
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--Anita Garner |
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Brother Ray swore his allegiance to country music and managed to include his favorite instrument - steel guitar - in most musical arrangements, whether in the recording studio, on the family's live radio show, in revivals, or in concert performances. In these songs from the album "The Joneses Sing", recorded in the 1950s, the instrumentation reflects his roots-to-rockabilly transition, but his reverence for pure country comes through loud and clear. Note: This album features "The Revelators" quartet. |
 Just A Closer Walk With Thee |
I Don't Care What The World May Do |
Sister Fern preferred her hymns with a blues or pop flavor. It's the way she sang from childhood and she didn't alter her delivery when she moved from honky tonks to churches. On these cuts from her solo album, "Singing A Happy Song," recorded later in the 1950s, her bluesy roots are showing. Note: This album features some of Nashville's finest musicians and singers, including Floyd Cramer on piano, Hank (Sugarfoot) Garland on guitar, and singing backup, "The Sunshine Boys" with bass singer J.D. Sumner. Read and hear more about the newly remastered CD release of the album here. |
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| Take My Hand Precious Lord |
I Ain't Got Time |
"I Was There When It Happened" was Sister Fern's first songwriting hit and has been recorded by scores of artists. In this montage we hear: 1) Sister Fern's version (1950s) |
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