Emridge "E.J." Jones, Jr. Collection, Circa 1960-2002
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 8 Hollinger Boxes
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
Emridge "E.J." Jones, Jr. Collection, African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library.
Background
- Scope and content:
The Emridge "E.J." Jones, Jr. Collection contains photographs, plaques, awards, newspaper clippings, sheet music, correspondence to and from Emridge "E.J." Jones Jr., a card, certificates, contracts, a yearbook, a membership card, proclamations, resume, adjudication forms, printed ephemera, one CD, a saxophone mouthpiece, coffee mug, license plate, oval shaped plate and sweater belonging to Emridge "E.J." Jones Jr. of Pompano Beach, Florida.
- Biographical / historical:
Emridge "E.J." Jones, Jr. was born on July 10, 1950, to parents Emridge Jones, Sr and Norma Brady Jones of Chicago, Illinois. He began performing in church as a child and learned to play the saxophone, piano, flute, and other instruments. He received his early education in Cook County, Illinois. He attended John Marshall Harlan High School where he graduated as an honor student. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1972 and did additional musical studies at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. He married Linda Houston in 1974, and they have two children, daughter Jemilah L. Jones and son Emridge Jones Ⅲ.
Emridge "E.J." Jones Jr. blossomed into a master musician and created the professional contemporary jazz group called E.J. and Company that performed for audiences at clubs, events, and other venues. Their unique sound is funky, sensual, and rhythmic. He was also the President of New Rel J Records 1994 to 2002.
Jones worked with other musicians as a music producer to compose, arrange, and record music and performed with and opened for other national and international acts such as Maze ft. Frankie Beverly, Jimmy Bo Horne, Earth Wind and Fire, KC and The Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang, Miami Sound Machine, Issac Hayes, George Benson, Olivia Newton-John, George Michaels, BB King, and many more.
In addition to his music career, Emridge "E.J." Jones Jr. was a music instructor and band director for the Broward County School District and music director for Ashanti Cultural Arts, Incorporated. He participated in youth creation programs in the City of Lauderdale Lakes and various parks within Broward County youth activity organizations that included football, baseball, basketball, and other youth related leagues. Emridge "E.J." Jones Jr. also tutored young people in music and consulted others in music business and legal matters that included copywrite, publishing and songwriting.
At the age of 51, he passed away from colon cancer in his home at Pompano, Florida, on February 23, 2002.
The Community Foundation of Broward created an endowment fund in Emridge "E.J." Jones Jr. name that continues his legacy of uplifting young African American musicians and artists with scholarships to support their creative initiatives.
Throughout his lifetime he was recognized and received prestigious awards including Musician of the Year on February 15, 2002, and the JM Family Enterprises African-American Achiever of the Arts in 2001. He was also awarded the North Broward County Links Male Pillars of the Community Award in May 1996, and Outstanding Contribution to the Youth in our Community on August 12, 1994. Notably, November 18, 2001, was declared Emridge "E.J." Jones Day.
E.J. & Company produced a 15-track album entitled "Everything Happens in Time" released in 1999 with famous tracks; "Suki Suki' "Ah Yeah" and "Amazing Grace".
- Processing information:
This collection received file level processing. The finding aid may be updated to reflect new descriptions as well as acquisitions to the collection.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into eight series: Series I. Correspondence, Series II. Personal Papers, Series III. Professional Papers, Series IV. Photographs, Series V. Printed Materials, Series VI. Awards, Series VII. Objects, and Series VIII. Audio-Visual Materials.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Notated music
Access and use
- Terms of access:
The Emridge "E.J." Jones, Jr. Collection is open for research.
- Preferred citation:
Emridge "E.J." Jones, Jr. Collection, African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library.
- Location of this collection:
-
African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library2650 Sistrunk BoulevardFort LauderdaleFL33311USA
