Barbara Jones (singer)

Barbara Nation (c. 1952 – 19 December 2014), better known as Barbara Jones, was a Jamaican singer who had a UK hit single in 1981 with "Just When I Needed You Most".

Barbara Jones
Birth nameBarbara Nation
Bornc. 1952
Kingston, Jamaica
Died19 December 2014 (aged 62)
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae, gospel
Years active1971–2014
LabelsTrojan, GG's, Dynamic, VP

Career

Born in Kingston and raised in Manchester, Jamaica, she began her career in 1971 with the single "Sad Movies".[1] She had her greatest success in January 1981 with "Just When I Needed You Most", which reached number 31 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

She toured as backing singer with Jimmy Cliff in the late 1970s and early 1980s;[1] In 1991, she became a devout Christian and gave up secular music to concentrate on gospel music.[1][3]

After becoming ill in London, she was diagnosed with leukaemia in February 2014.[1] She returned to reggae with performances in Brazil with Lloyd Parks.[4] Her health deteriorated and she died in Kingston's University Hospital of the West Indies on 19 December 2014, from pneumonia contracted during chemotherapy treatments. She was 62 years old.[1][5]

Jones was once described as "the Billie Holliday of reggae music".[6]

Discography
  • Don't Stop Loving Me (1979), GG's
  • My Love: Just When I Needed You Most (1980), Rhino
  • Sings Hit Songs In Reggae Style (1983), Top Rank
  • You're Always On My Mind (1984), Dynamic
  • 10 Million Sellers In Reggae (1985), Top Rank
  • Need to Belong (1985), EAD
  • Will It Last Forever, Hit
  • For Your Ears Only (1994), Jamaican Gold
  • The Two of Us, Park Height - Phillip James feat. Barbara Jones
  • Jesus Is Calling (2000), VP
  • Thank You Lord for Your Blessing (2005), Silver Lining
  • So Much to Thank Him For (2005), Silver Lining
  • Use Me Lord (2011), Nylahs Gospel Music
Compilations
  • Best of Barbara Jones (1976), Trojan
  • Sad Movies (1997), Charly
  • Just When I Needed You Most: The Best of Barbara Jones (2004), Trojan
  • Blue Side of Lonesome (2007), Jet Star/Zone Entertainment

References
  1. Campbell, Howard (2014) "Gospel singer Barbara Jones dies at 62", Jamaica Observer, 23 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014
  2. "Barbara Jones", Official Charts Company; retrieved 24 December 2014
  3. Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) "Barbara Jones still giving thanks", Jamaica Observer, 17 March 2013; retrieved 24 December 2014.
  4. Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2014) "Barbara Jones gets her groove back in Brazil", Jamaica Observer, 8 June 2014; retrieved 24 December 2014.
  5. "Gospel Singer Barbara Jones Is Dead", Jamaica Gleaner, 19 December 2014; retrieved 24 December 2014
  6. Hebdige, Dick (1987) Cut `n' Mix: Culture, Identity and Caribbean Music, Routledge; ISBN 978-0415058759, p. 121
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