Highway Jones

Highway Jones is a rock act that brings together the elements of classic rock, funk, blues, and a whisper of jazz to create what they call "Jive Rock." Highway Jones has been igniting audiences and bringing its brand of rock to Kern County for five years. They have played at places such as: B.B. King's Blues Club, The Gate, Paco's Tacos, and the Bellvedere Lounge. They have also staged a benefit for a close friend in the wake of her husband's death. Highway Jones played at Strambler Park for the fund raising of East High's band program and just recently opened up for L.A. based rock act, Exploiting Eve. Also, the band has appeared on two Bakersfield radio shows, B-Rock 99's "Home Grown" and KRAB's "Local Rock Rumble." The band is comprised of Donald Rickert, Darcie Blake, J.R. Barrera and John Barker. Donald has been playing guitar since he was 13 and has sat in on many jam sessions at Sud's Tavern (now Paco's Tacos) with Chuck Seaton (of Big House) and J.R. Goldman (the guitar teacher for Korn). Darcie received a lot of her training at North High School were she was in Chamber Singers and did some work at the Melodrama. J.R. Barrera studied under Johnny Snider and has been playing for about twenty-five years in Bakersfield. He did some stints for Mixed Company and Still Country. John Barker has fronted his own jazz group and played with many groups at Cal State Bakersfield and Bakersfield College. Right now, Highway Jones is in the studio finishing their first full length CD, City Limits.