“The Blues however, have never been about mass appeal. To me, Blues represent the things that music is supposed to be. Not chasing fame or flash, but speaking truth with emotion. Sure, there are exceptions to this, but keeping the Blues alive ensures that honesty and purity in music doesn't go away.”

Davey Jones: The Blossom of Roots Music

Born and raised in South Mississippi, Davey Jones brings a unique quality and sound to his music. Influenced by Southern Rock and Blues musicians, Jones sticks to his roots while playing a wide variety of genres. While known for his guitar playing, Davey also plays drums, piano, bass, organ and many other instruments. This can be seen in his music, as almost all of the instrumentation on his releases were played all by Jones himself. Throughout his 30 plus years of writing and performing, Jones has developed a one-of-a-kind experience to those who he performs for. With high-energy and soulful guitar phrasings, Jones has set himself among the all-time great blues and rock musicians performing today. His love and dedication to his shows and his fans is apparent and creates a very personal experience for anyone that attends. with over seventy thousand followers on TikTok, where Jones gives guitar lessons and advertises his music. Davey has a dedicated YouTube page for guitar lessons and music with over eighteen thousand followers, getting approximately one hundred and fifty thousand views a month and growing.                                                                         (Photo: Davey Jones)

Jones gets paid from both YouTube and TikTok for his content. He has amassed over two million streams on his YouTube page. From these various platforms, Jones also gives online one-on-one instructional videos. “All of these things together are helping grow the brand and my music streams,” says Jones, who enjoyed some chart action last year with his catchy single, "Woman I Love" (2025). Presently, Jones has over thirty songs out on all of the streaming platforms, getting over ten thousand monthly streams on Pandora. Jones began playing music at a young age in church and various bands, winning 'Most Talented Musician' honors in his senior year of high school in the state of Louisiana. Presently, Jones performs at various venues throughout the South.

Interview by Michael Limnios                            Special Thanks: Doug Deutsch

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What does the blues mean to you? 

Music has always been a big part of my life. I was raised in a family where we were forced to learn to play something. Just like any kid, I didn't always enjoy practicing,  but I did find joy in playing music. Throughout the years, music has always been that constant in my life, even through all the changes and curve balls that life threw at me.

Music is unique in that it allows you to express what words sometimes cannot say.  And anytime you write, play, or perform music, a piece of you, your personality, mind, and even soul, are transferred into what you're playing. So anytime you listen to music, you're viewing a special part of the artist, and whenever you play your music, you should keep that same thought in mind.  

With that as the backdrop, music shapes all of us, and the kind of music you listen to can affect you greatly. My natural personality is laid back, somewhat worry free and hopefully filled with humor. Obviously, life tries to steal that joy from me, but music, especially Blues music, is able to let me escape life and find the joy life tries to suck out of me. 

I've met people that think of Blues as depressing or boring, but to me it's the exact opposite. There's nothing better than putting on some blues and letting the worries of the world wash away, preferably over a glass of whatever helps you relax. There's a uniqueness to blues that most other styles of music don't share. In Blues, no topic is off limits. Love, pain, joy, music itself, even nonsense, literally no subject is off limits. It's that lack of restraint from rules. That freedom to play and say whatever you feel that really makes Blues unique to me.  

“Most importantly, you've got to be authentic and accessible. Gone should be the days of the untouchable artist. Instead, if you're true to who you are, people will listen. Don't try to be something you're not or more than you are. Just be yourself.” (Photo: Davey Jones)

How do you describe your sound and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

Hopefully in tune and in time. In all honesty, I don't think about writing or playing a "Blues" song. I just play what I feel. I know that sounds cliché. In the end, we're all drawing from our own experiences and standing on the shoulders of the true greats that paved the way. My sound is just a mixture of the influences that inspired me to play. Most people tell me that my sound is a mixture of Tab Benoit and Delbert McClinton. Can't say I'm surprised by that. After all, I was born and raised in Southern Mississipi and Louisiana, so that certainly explains the Tab Benoit infinfluence. As for the other, who doesn't love that Texas Blues sound of the legends like Delbert, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan and so many others? And growing up in the South, inevitably, country music also sneaks its way into my style as well. So yes, I certainly do draw on those influences to create my sound. 

It's probably not the way it's supposed to be done,  but alot of my songs start with an idea from artists I like such as Keb Mo, Johnny Lang, Delbert, Tab, Taj, and so many others. They have a beat or idea that I like, and I just put my own twist on it. Can't say that everyone else does it that, but I'm guilty. 

As far as my playing goes, I never claim to be a great guitar player or anything else. I've heard all my life, “oh you're so talented"... Here's the hard truth. At least for me, talent is a myth. I put in thousands of hours to play as poorly as I do. So whatever level people think I've reached, I earned it. But I also get bored very quickly, so I could never make myself practice one thing for very long. That means that I'll never be the world's best anytanything. Instead, I'd play guitar for a little while, then play drums, then piano, etc. Never mastered any of them, but I'm fairly decent at most. It's come in handy though. Almost everything you ever hear on my songs are all me. 

So there is a certain amount of skill or technique that music requires. But probably more importantly, is how you play the notes. I tell my guitar students and my YouTube audience all the time that how you play the notes is much more important than the notes themselves. You can literally play any note you want if you play it in the right way. And that boils down to feel and emotion. 

As musicians, we're all trying to get our sound (feeling and emotion) across to the audience. The greats can do that with very few notes. So yes, playing any instrument takes practice and dedication. But the truly successful musicians are the ones that can get feeling and emotion across to the listener. It doesn't have to be flashy or fancy, but it does have to have soul. 

“Music has always been a big part of my life. I was raised in a family where we were forced to learn to play something. Just like any kid, I didn't always enjoy practicing,  but I did find joy in playing music. Throughout the years, music has always been that constant in my life, even through all the changes and curve balls that life threw at me.” (Photo: Davey Jones)

What keeps a musician passionate over the years in rock, blues? How does your hometown that affect your music?

I was raised in the birthplace of rock n roll. Most people, even where I live, don't realize that the first rock lick ever recorded was in Hattiesburg, MS. So growing up knowing that I lived in the roots of rock actually meant something to me. Being from where I'm from, you get a wide variety of music influences. Country, rock, blues, zydeco, bluegrass, etc., were all around. So there's hints of all those flavors in my playing. I love all of those styles for their uniqueness, and I try hard to pay tribute to them in the best way I can. 

Like most people, there were times in my life where I got burnt out on music, or stuck at a level of playing I just couldn't seem to get past. But my passion for playing always brought me back. Honestly, I think that passion is just something you're born with. Like an obsession. An itch you just can't ever scratch. There's a drive that keeps you playing, even if no one will ever hear. You've got to love what you do, and love what you play. Most of us realize that we'll never be famous, but that's not what drives us to play. For me, at least, it's just the music. 

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I'm actually scared that the blues will die. I'm going to do my best to make sure that it doesn't happen, but that is a fear of mine. I don't want to see Blues music put on a shelf in a museum. I want it alive and thriving the way it has since it burst onto the stage. I see good indications that it will be around for a long time. There are quite a few great young artists keeping this style alive. I want to see Blues in the mainstream alongside other genres and not relegated to niche communities. So whatever we as musicians can do to make sure this never dies, I'm fully on board. 

That being said, I've always been an old soul. I have a love and passion for the music that brought us to where we are. Robert Johnson, BB King, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, this list could go on forever. These people played with a passion you could feel. Raw emotion that reaches out and tugs at your soul. If you close your eyes and listen, you can feel the Delta fields, the streets in Memphis, the smoky bars of Chicago. That's a feeling and vibe few can replicate. And maybe it's best that the Blues stays small, simple, raw and personal. After all, not everyone is ready for music that can transport you to another time and place. 

“As musicians, we're all trying to get our sound (feeling and emotion) across to the audience. The greats can do that with very few notes. So yes, playing any instrument takes practice and dedication. But the truly successful musicians are the ones that can get feeling and emotion across to the listener. It doesn't have to be flashy or fancy, but it does have to have soul.” (Photo: Davey Jones)

What moment changed your life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

Honestly, I can't say there's one moment specifically. It's more of a collection of moments. Like my mother teaching me to play guitar. Or the man that taught me how to finger pick. Or my brother in law showing me my first blues scale. Or people telling me that I would never make it as a musician. Every moment collectively made me who I am and brought me along this journey. Like many people I assume, it's every step in life that leads you to where you are, not one point specifically. 

I can say, however, that up to this point, and probably for the rest of my life, the thing I'm most proud of, is that I'm able to help people with their music. Not only do I get to share my music with the world, but I'm blessed to have the ability to help people who are struggling on guitar as well. 

While I wasn't blessed with being the most gifted musician in the world, I was given the ability to teach people how to play. I remember all too well those hurdles or plateaus I hit when learning to play. Those moments that make you want to quit and never play again. But I was able to break through those times with help from others, and one of my greatest joys is being able to help other people through that experience. I know that everyone probably expects to hear that my career highlight was some award or show, but for me, it's simpler but just as profound. It's being able to let other people experience that same joy and passion for music that I have. 

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music/musician in today’s society?

Let me start by saying that many musicians aren't in music for the right reasons. Quite a few are chasing money, fans, fame etc. Too many have become activists for one cause or another, and it's just my humble opinion, but that was not what a musician was supposed to be. In a perfect world, a musician is supposed to let you escape reality for a little while and carry you on a journey through their music.  They're entertainers, poets, and artists. Unfortunately, many are chasing something other than that. Generic songs with cookie cutter lyrics and minimal emotion and truth. The Blues however, have never been about mass appeal. To me, Blues represent the things that music is supposed to be. Not chasing fame or flash, but speaking truth with emotion. Sure, there are exceptions to this, but keeping the Blues alive ensures that honesty and purity in music doesn't go away. 

“I'm actually scared that the blues will die. I'm going to do my best to make sure that it doesn't happen, but that is a fear of mine. I don't want to see Blues music put on a shelf in a museum. I want it alive and thriving the way it has since it burst onto the stage. I see good indications that it will be around for a long time. ” (Photo: Davey Jones)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

I really want everyone to hear this, because the main things I've learned through music are the same things that will make you successful at anything in life. 

1. I've had people tell me that I'd never be good at guitar because I didn't play correctly. People have told me that I'm terrible and I'll never succeed. You're always going to have people that doubt you, and if you listen to them, you will fail. But the struggles you encounter learning to play, making mistakes, getting embarrassed etc, they make you stronger if you just keep going. Whether you succeed is up to you, not anyone else. 

2. Learning to play any instrument is really hard. Most people aren't going to stay dedicated long enough to learn to play. The same can be said for anything you do in life. Most people aren't successful, not because they can't achieve success, but because they give up too quickly. We live in a world where we expect instant gratification. But music doesn't work that way. It's hard! It takes hours, years, maybe a lifetime, and you still won't master it. But that doesn't mean you should quit trying. 

3. Do what you love. Don't get stuck in that endless loop of life. You need something that gives you joy. Music has always been that outlet for me when time are rough. Find that constant in your life that can bring you joy, and don't let go of it. 

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I don't think we can avoid the fact that music has to evolve with the times. Especially nowadays, people expect something new constantly. This isn't a bad thing, it's just different. But it does mean that there's more demand on a musician to keep putting out new songs all the time. We might have traded the days of the timeless song for the days of a song for less time. So firstly, I try to keep pushing out new songs.

On top of that, the way music is made has changed. Most instruments have been replaced by computerized sounds and simple loops. However, I won't compromise on real instruments played by real people. There's something special about music made by hand. So although it takes a little longer, my music will always be played by real hands. 

That being said, you do have to understand where music is and where it is heading. This doesn't mean compromising on what makes your music uniquely yours, but you do want people to listen,  so you have to be aware of what's new. For me, I try to blend styles and cross some genres. This is not unique to me, obviously, but why can't you take blues into country, rock or any other style? 

Most importantly, you've got to be authentic and accessible. Gone should be the days of the untouchable artist. Instead, if you're true to who you are, people will listen. Don't try to be something you're not or more than you are. Just be yourself. In my songs, my videos, at the shows, what you see is what you get, just me and my passion for what I do. You'd be surprised how just being yourself and interacting with people on a personal level can capture the audience. After all, as a musician, the music is the byproduct, the bonus, the extra. In the end, you're giving the people yourself. The music is just an extension of you.

Davey Jones - Home

(Photo: Davey Jones)