Brenda Jones (The Jones Girls) - A Profile

Brenda Jones (7 Dec 1954 - 3 Apr 2017) of The Jones Girls would have been 68 today had she not been tragically killed when run down by several cars crossing the road whilst visiting her daughter in Wilmington, Delaware in Apr 2017.

She had become good friends with Starpoint Radio presenter and UK radio promoter, Gary Van Den Bussche, in Jul 2013  when it was reported that she had become homeless. Gary raised a campaign on his DSG facebook page which resulted in her being moved from a shelter to a hotel and then later to a new home with her daughter and granddaughter. She was speaking about returning to a career in music.

Gary has provided much of the information given here.

As part of The Jones Girls, Brenda sang the lead vocals on many of their classic's including "This Feelings Killing Me", "You Made Me Love You", "You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else", "Life Goes On", "We're A Melody", "I'm at your Mercy", "Dance Turned Into a Romance", "I Close My Eyes", "When I'm Gone", "ASAP", "Lets Be Friends First", "What a Fool", "I Can Make A Difference", "Why You Wanna do That To Me", "AH AH AH AH" plus the co-Lead on "Nights over Egypt" among others.

The list of artists the Jones Girls have sung with is like a who's who is Soul music, but included Leon Haywood, Lamont Dozier, Norman Connors, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Jean Carn, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, Curtis Mayfield, Prince Phillip Mitchell, Linda Clifford, The Four Tops and many others. Brenda features on recordings by the likes of Ben E. King, Teddy Pendergrass, McFadden & Whitehead, Peabo Bryson, Leon Huff and Norman Connors.

The Jones Girls' performances with Diana Ross opened many doors for the girls. Ross gave them a brief interlude in her show where they would sing "If I Ever Lose This Heaven". Kenny Gamble of Philadelphia International Records and singer Patti LaBelle were in the audience during a Philadelphia performance, and after the show, Ross introduced them to The Jones Girls and the group signed with Philadelphia International in early 1979 and the rest they say is history.

Brenda spent a lot of time concentrating on her family life. Her last release was "What Your Love Has Done" which was originally written, produced and arranged by Dewey Andrew in 2007 and co-produced by the late George Mena. However, the song was left in the can after the sad loss of George Mena, until 2013 when Dewey Andrew decided this needed to be released. Brenda Jones went back in the studio to add some extra vocal touches with Dewey, giving the song that magical touch, that charted on the UK Soul charts reaching #1 in many of them. Unfortunately this was Brenda's only solo release.

Apparently, it was no secret that she did not get on with her sister Shirley but, owing to the Sister Sledge family dispute, they made up and talked about touring again as The Jones Girls.

Courtesy of Brenda Jones and DSG here's an unreleased song "Give Me What I Need" along with a playlist of the songs above on which Brenda performed lead vocals.

For more from The Jones Girls refer to a the profile for Shirley Jones.

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved