Conversation with Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr.

Reverend Robert B. Jones, Sr. speaks with Stephen Winick of the American Folklife Center. Reverend Robert B. Jones, Sr. is an inspirational musician and storyteller celebrating the history, humor, and power of American roots music. His deep love for traditional African American and American music is shared in live performances that interweave timeless stories with original and traditional songs. For more than thirty years Robert has entertained and educated audiences of all ages in schools, colleges, libraries, union halls, prisons, churches and civil rights organizations. As an ordained minister and a Baptist pastor, he has an unwavering faith the cultural importance of sacred and traditional American roots music. At the heart of his message is the belief that our cultural diversity is a story that we should celebrate, not just tolerate. Rev. Jones makes his home in Detroit, Michigan, and performs throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. An award-winning multi-instrumentalist, he is accomplished on guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and ukulele. He has recorded six albums of original and traditional songs. In addition to his solo performances, he often collaborates musically with his wife, Sister Bernice Jones, and his friend Matt Watroba. In 2017 Robert and Matt co-founded “Common Chords”, an educational organization designed to create community, cultural and historical connections through music and the arts. Jones is an award-winning blues radio host, has taught music history at Wayne State University, and serves as a member of the affiliate faculty at Boston’s Berklee School of Music. He has written, performed, and recorded a one man show entitled “An Evening With Lead Belly.” Jones is also a nationally recognized storyteller, and has been featured at many festivals including the National Storytelling Festival. For transcript and more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-11266