About Me
Dr. Bobby Jones has been with Black Entertainment Television (BET) since the company started in 1980. He dominates Sunday programming as the host and executive producer of Bobby Jones Gospel, and producer of Video Gospel. Bobby Jones Gospel, for which he is best known, has been seen on BET since November 1980 and is one of the network's most popular shows. Every Sunday, Jones along with the New Life Singing Aggregation, performs contemporary gospel music and welcomes an array of gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, Shirley Ceaser, Yolanda Adams, The Canton Spirituals, Hezekiah Walker and more.Jones has revolutionized the gospel music industry. Bobby Jones Gospel is the first and only nationally syndicated black gospel television show and Video Gospel, which debuted in 1989, is the only national television outlet gospel artists have to show their videos. Born in Henry County, Tenn., Jones always dreamt of a career in music. He excelled academically throughout school, graduating from high school at 15 and Tennessee State University at 19 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Jones continued his education by pursuing a master's degree at Tennessee State and a doctorate from Vanderbilt. While pursuing his master's, Jones taught elementary school in the Missouri and Tennessee education systems.In his teaching days, Jones helped develop the idea for a Black Expo in Nashville, Tenn. (Black Expo is a fair held in cities across the country which focuses on the contributions African Americans have made to their communities.) During the effort, Jones introduced the pilot for what is now Bobby Jones Gospel to WSMV-TV in Nashville. WSMV-TV picked up the show that Jones created, produced and hosted. It ran in Nashville from 1976 until it was picked up be BET for national syndication in 1980.During this period, Jones also created, produced and hosted Bobby Jones World, a magazine-style show that incorporated gospel music with world-renowned authors, entertainers and national leaders. Bobby Jones World ran from 1978-1984. Jones has extended his talents into the television and movie arena. In 1982, Jones made his television movie debut in NBC's Sisters, starring Dianne Carroll, Paul Winfield and Irene Cara. In 1980 he wrote and performed in Make A Joyful Noise, a black gospel opera which aired on PBS; and in 1983, he was a guest on country music star Ronnie Milsap's television special, In CelebrationEducation
Elementary & High School Henry and Paris, Tennessee, completed at age 15
Bachelor of Science Degree Tennessee State University, completed at age 19
Masters of Education Tennessee State University
Doctorate of Education Vanderbilt University
Doctor of Theology Payne's Theological Seminary
National Reading Textbook Consultant, McGraw Hill Publishers, New York, NY
Teacher, St. Louis Public Schools, 1959-1965
Teacher, Nashville Metropolitan Schools, 1966-1968
Instructor, Tennessee State University, Reading Department, 1974-1986Religion
Methodist (CME) Cole's Chapel, Henry, Tennessee 1940-1956
Baptist (Missionary) Temple Church, Nashville, Tennessee 1956-CurrentSocial Organizations
NAACP
Tennessee State University Alumni Association
American Heart Association
American Diabetics Association
100 Black Men of America
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, Board of DirectorsTelevision
Black Entertainment Television, "Bobby Jones Gospel" , highest rated show on the network for twenty years, The longest running show in the history of cable television, (twenty-six years), host and performer, 1980-currentBlack Entertainment Television Network, "Video Gospel", second highest rated show on the network for eighteen years, the second longest running show in the history of cable television (twenty seasons), producer & host, 1986-CurrentThe Word Television Network, "Bobby Jones Presents", 2001-current, producer & host.The Word Television Network, "Bobby Jones Gospel Classics",
2001-current, producer & hostThe Gospel Channel, "Gospel Vignettes", 2006-The BET Gospel Network, "Let's Talk Church", 2002-current, producer & hostOutstanding Awards & Honors
President George Bush citation, "Revolutionized the Gospel Music Industry" 2001The Gabriel Award, "Make a Joyful Noise" first Black Gospel Opera, 1980The International Film Festival Award, 1980, "Make a Joyful Noise"The Grammy Awards, "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today",1983The Dove Awards, "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today", 1983The Stellar Awards, "Outstanding Achievement Award", 1996The Stellar Award, "The James Cleveland Award", 1998The Stellar Awards, "The Living Legend Award", 2005The Sally Martin Award, (Mother of Gospel Music), 1987The Thomas A. Dorsey Award, (Father of Gospel Music), 1987Tom Joyner,"Hardest Working Man Award", 2003Bob Johnson's "Chairman Award", BET-TV, 2002The Full Gospel Baptist Convention, "Trailblazer Award", 2003Congressman Al Edwards, "Unsung Hero Award", 2003Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, 'Outstanding Service Award", 2003Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, archived the "Master Works" of Dr. Bobby Jones, 1998Special International Recognitions Dr Jones traveled to all countries
Bahamas, "Golden Vision Award", 2005Dominica , appointed "Ambassador at Large", 2005Perusia, Italy,The Umbria Jazz Festival, "Gospel at it's Best", toured entire nation, 1995-Fez, Morocco,The World Sacred Music Festival, 2000Tokyo, Japan, The Japan Gospel Star Tour, and fifteen cities, 2001Barbados Gospel Television Production (2 years), 1995-1996De Den Hag, Holland The Holland Experience, (eight years), 1980-1988Vienna, France, The French Connection, 2000Barcelona, Madrid, Spain, The Spanish Gospel Special, 2001Turks and Caicos Islands, Goodwill Recognition, 2002Tobago, British West Indies, "Contribution to the Music Industry", 2004Cape Town, Johannesburg, South Africa, "Christians Against Apartheid", 1984London, England, BET Television Special, 1991Melbourne, Australia, Umbria Jazz Festival, 2005The Ivory Coast, Africa, Gospel Music Tour, 1992 and 1993Anguilla, British West Indies, "Gospel Radio Live", 2005Jerusalem, Israel, International Television Promotions for Israel for 96 countries, featuring twenty-six Holy sites.Israel, Traveled with Senator Albert Gore on a "fact finding mission" of the Jewish Nation, baptized Tipper Gore in the River of Jordan.Radio
The Sheridan Gospel Network, "The Bobby Jones Gospel Countdown", National
The Sheridan Gospel Network, SGN, The Light, "Bobby Jones Radio Show" (4 hours on Sundays), NationwideBooks
Touched By God, Simon/Schuster, Pocket Books, 1998Make A Joyful Noise, My Twenty Five Years In Gospel Music, St. Martin's Press, 2000Movie & Stage Play
Sister, Sister, written by Dr. Maya Angelou, starring Diahann Carroll, Paul Winfield, Irene Cara and Roslyn Cash, 1984, MovieJoyful Noel, written and directed by Walter Rutledge, starring Tramaine Hawkins and Rickie Dillard, 2005, Stage playDiscography
"Sooner or Later" Benson Music Group, 1978
"There's Hope for This World", Nashboro Creed Records, 1979
" Caught Up", Nashboro Creed Records, 1980
"Soul Set Free", Word Records, 1982
"Come Together", Word Records, 1984.....Grammy Award, Dove Award
"Tin Gladje" Stockholm, Sweden, 1985
"I'll Never Forget", Malaco Records, 1989
"Another Time", Light Records, 1990
"Bring It To Jesus", Tyscot Records, 1995
" Just Churchin", Gospocentric Records, 1998
"Live In Perusia, Italy, Liquid Eight Records, 2004
"Faith Unscripted", Sunrise Records, 2007
"Bobby Jones-The Ambassador", Zomba Records, 2007Gospel Educational Components
Bobby Jones Gospel Explosions, Training for television production, 1990-current
International Gospel Industry Retreat, Training, Association and Informing for the gospel industry, 1995-current
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