Jones Recording Studio » Grandpa Jones

Memories and Practical Jokes

sueann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:41:35 +0000

As I look back at my life, through all the crazy years of growing up, I realize that all my friends and I had one thing in common; Our lives were NOT normal! We did, however, have quite a few things in common. We were raised at the Grand Ole Opry or in the back seat of a car, riding 500 hundred miles, right next to or under a bass fiddle. Sometimes we were riding on the top bunk of a camper or motor home. Whatever the case, our common bond was…Entertainment.

There was so much comradary and respect between our parents, that I think it rolled down to our generation. Along with comradary and respect came a lot of practical jokes. One that I recall:

Mom and Dad’s friends, Ben and Margaret Smathers had a family group called the Stoney Mountain Cloggers. Their kids, which were a part of the group, were all about my same age, and they were square dancers at the Opry. Micky Smathers, the oldest son, was getting married, and announced that the wedding would be on stage at the Ryman Auditorium, where the Grand Ole Opry was at that time.

Hal Smathers, Micky’s brother, asked if I would give him a ride to the wedding. Now don’t get me wrong, he was a good friend, but at that time, I would much rather have been spending time with Candy or Debbie Smathers! They were much better looking and far more appealing to me at that time!!

However, I did pick Hal up and took him to the wedding. I parked my old white Ford Van in the lot right by the Ryman and we went inside. The wedding and the reception was over just in time for rush hour traffic. Rush hour traffic in Nashville is something that I still hate today. When we rounded the corner, walking toward the van, I realized that the only thing worse than rush hour traffic, would be rush hour traffic in a van with JUST MARRIED and FUN TONIGHT written on the windows, while dragging cans, high heels, and other decorative things. It even had handcuffs hanging from the antenna.

Now, to make it worse, Hal had a full beard, as did I. The facial expressions of people passing us in traffic, was definately comical.

Judging by how hard Ben Smathers was laughing, it was clear to us that he had something to do with this practical joke, and I always wondered if Dad (Grandpa Jones) might have helped out a little!

Dad and Ben

Stoney Mountain Cloggers (Smathers Family Group)

Hal and Debbie

Recording with the Family This Past Week

sueann — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:27:50 +0000

I was very excited to get the opportunity to record a new CD with mom, Ramona Jones, and the many family and friends that we have worked with through the years. Many of whom worked with us at the “Grandpa Jones Family Dinner Theater, in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, some new friends that mom has performed with over the last few years in Nashville. She is an exceptional old time fiddle player and I am so proud to be able to record with her again.

The CD will have over 20 songs/tunes on it featuring: Ramona Jones on Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals

Alisa Jones Wall on Hammered Duclimer and Vocals, Ron Wall on Autoharp and Vocals, Ruth McClain on Upright Bass and Vocals, Greg Davis on Rythem Guitar, Banjo and Vocals, Danny Dozier on Travis Style Guitar, Larry Sledge on Mandolin and Vocals, Greg Moody on Mandolin, Lead and Rythem Guitar and Vocals, and myself, Mark Jones on Banjo and 5-String Dobro.

I am always amazed when I play with these guys at the amount of talent that they have. It is not only easy to work with these guys but also lots of fun since we have worked together for so many years. It is like coming home anytime we are together. We always have lots of catching up to do. Every year these guys are good enough to come to Mountain View, Arkansas to the Grandpa Jones tribute that is held on Labor Day weekend at the Ozark Folk Center in honor of my dad.

I believe that the new CD will be entitled “Falling Leaves” after the song that dad wrote. Hopefully we will be able to get it released before too long. Look for it on this site. We will have it here for you as soon as it is available.

Good talking to you. Come back and see me soon!

In the midst of the Grand Ole Opry

sueann — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:22:56 +0000

A Note From Mark: My first memories of the Grand Ole Opry, was as a child, with my mom and dad, Grandpa and Ramona Jones. We spent most every Friday and Saturday night at the Ryman Auditorium. The Ryman Auditorium was an old church, built by Captain Ryman, full of character and history, even before the Grand Ole Opry bagan to have shows there, but nothing to compare with the character that was to come later. Each entertainer, in those days was talented and unique in their own special way. That was back in the day when each song that was played actually sounded different from the one before. The entertainers in those days performed from their hearts to the hearts of the people. The songs were written to touch the hearts of the common, hard working person. Not just geared toward a teenage market, fad music, to make a quick sale. As a good friend of mine, Libby Leverett-Crew, (daughter of Les Leverett, Opry Photographer) stated in her book, Saturday Nights with Daddy At The Opry, I quote: Even with gum stuck on the underside of the pews, the stench of stale cigarette smoke and buttery popcorn, and the loud, loud music, there was something reverential about the building”.

Most of my childhood memories were centered around that entertainers of that era. Memories of friends likes Stringbean, who was always giving me popcorn money and not taking any change back. Stringbean was dad’s best friend in those days. I remember one time going with dad and Stringbean to the Opry on an icy night. Estelle, Stringbean’s wife, usually did all the driving for String. She didn’t want to drive that night, because of the bad roads, so dad drove him. We got out at the Opry on solid ice. String was carrying his costume bag in one hand and his banjo case in the other. He was bent over from the hips, going across the ice. I asked him why he was walking like that and he answered, “As tall as I am, if I fall, it won’t hurt as bad from here.”

For some reason that logic made a lot of sense to me. I feel so blessed to have grown up in that era, with the role models that I had. Check back in for more stories. Thanks for stopping by.