The Jones Girls' self-titled debut for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records yielded the thumpin' million-selling number "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else." The album also boasts several popular radio-aired tracks: the snappy, jazz-flavored "This Feelings Killing Me," the sweet "We're a Melody," the second single "I'm at Your Mercy," and the sweet, shimmering "Who Can I Run To?" The last, the flip side of their gold single, was a 1995 gold hit cover for Xscape, "Off the Hook." In 1998, The Jones Girls was reissued as half of a two-fer with At Peace With Woman. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
Representative Albums: "The Best of the Jones Girls," "The Jones Girls/At Peace with Woman," "The Jones Girls Collection"
Representative Songs: "Nights Over Egypt," "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebo," "I Just Love the Man"
Biography
Valerie, Shirley, and Brenda Jones spent more than 10 years in the music business before they tasted success of their own. During that time, however, their voices graced the records and stage performances of dozens of established stars, including Diana Ross and Betty Everett.
The daughters of Detroit-based gospel singer Mary Francis Jones, Valerie, Shirley, and Brenda Jones spent years singing on other artists' recording sessions in Detroit and later in Los Angeles. The trio first tried making their own records for the tiny Fortune label in Detroit during the 1960's, with no success. They moved to Hot Wax-Invictus, the company formed by Holland-Dozier-Holland, during the later part of the decade, but sales of those records weren't much more encouraging.
It was during this period that session work came to dominate their activities-the Jones Girls were in heavy demand to sing on other artists' singles. In 1973, they were signed to the Curtom Records subsidiary imprint Gemigo, a label that was originally organized as an outlet for Leroy Hutson's activities as a producer and arranger. "If You Don't Love Me No More," their debut single, wasn't especially popular, but it led to a follow-up record, "Will You Be There," that proved extremey important. The single never sold but its arranger, Gil Askey, who was working for Diana Ross, recommended the Jones Girls as back-up singers for her on tour for a series of engagements that lasted two years and brought them some valuable exposure. Ironically enough, Curtom was sitting on an entire LP cut by the trio that never got released. One of the songs off of the album, "Hey Lucinda," was issued as a single, but it did less good for the Jones Girls than it did for Betty Everett, who later recorded her vocals over their backing track for her version of the song, which did chart.
Their performances with Diana Ross opened up many doors, however, including a contract with Philadelphia International Records at the end of the 1970s. The trio cut four LPs in their three years with the label, enjoying a string of hits around them including "You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else," "Better Things To Do," "Nights Over Egypt" and "I Just Love the Man." They later left Philadelphia International for an offer from RCA, but their sales at the new label were poor. The trio never recaptured the moment they had at the end of the 1970's and the beginning of the 1980's. Shirley Jones, who was the first of the trio to record singly, with an entire album for Phildadelphia International, has continued to carve out a separate career. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
The Jones Girls consisted of sisters Brenda, Valorie and Shirley Jones. They served as backup singers for Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, and Le Pamplemousse. They worked with Diana Ross from 1975-78 and were the backup singers on Linda Clifford's 1978 album If My Friends Could See Me Now.
Their biggest hit was "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else". The song broke the Billboard Magazine Top 40 at #38 in May 1979. The song was also a Top 5 R&B hit.
An additional hit followed in 1980, with the single "I Just Love The Man", charting at #9 in January 1981. The less successful "Nights Over Egypt" (released in 1981, charting at R&B #23 in 1982), is currently a cult classic that receives more airplay on urban radio stations than their previous bigger hits.
After the release and failure of their fourth U.S. album, On Target, lead singer Shirley Jones pursued a solo career and had a #1 R&B hit on Billboard with "Do You Get Enough Love", from her top-ten debut album Always in the Mood. "Do You Get Enough Love" was written by Bunny Sigler who also produced it with Kenny Gamble[1]. In 2007, Shirley released an album Ladies Night Out together with Jean Carn and Cherrelle, on CD and DVD.
"Who Can I Run To", from the band's self-titled 1979 debut album, was covered by Xscape in 1995. Their cover version became a number #1 R&B and #8 Pop hit.
Valorie Jones died on December 2, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 45.[2]
