Jones, Clay

CLAY JONES

  • From Mocksville, North Carolina (near Winston-Salem).
  • First public performance: at the Snuffy Jenkins Festival with a band called The Carolina Bluegrass Band
  • 1991, moved to Japan and worked there as a musician, playing everything from jazz to bluegrass.
  • 1992-1994, joined Lou Reid, Terry Baucom and Carolina as guitarist.
  • 1994-1996, took a two-year hiatus from touring.
  • 1995, played guitar on the “Bluegrass ’95” album which won the IBMA award for Instrumental Album of the Year in 1996.
  • 1996-98, worked with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
  • 1999, worked with the Gena Britt Band.
  • 2000, worked with the Schankman Twins.
  • 2003, joined Mountain Heart.
  • 2005, released solo project Mountain Tradition (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2007, left Mountain Heart to pursue solo projects, but rejoined the band 16 months later (December 2009)
  • 2015, after a hiatus from music, he recorded an EP album titled “Heritage Not Hate” with his band Clay Jones and Pure Drive.