Rex Jones began performing with his family at age 5. At that time of his life it was customary for instruments to be passed around from member to member. And that's how he picked up his main instrument, the Guitar. Being a lefty Rex couldn't always change the strings around. This left him ( no pun intended) to adapt to a right handed guitar "as is". In grade school Rex played brass and woodwinds in concert band. Since then he has picked up a variety of percussion and flute instruments as well. Most of Rex's musical influence are due to his father Dr. Raleigh Jones Sr., an avid songwriter and performer who wrote over 500 original compositions.
Rex's dad owned a record shop in California in the early '70s which exposed him (and the rest of the family) to many styles of music. This along with the music his older siblings exposed him to perhaps explains the influences of his broad writing abilities. Like most young guitarists Rex spent many hours jamming in his bedroom to the radio. In addition Rex backed up his dad a lot when he had piano gigs.
His father is mostly responsible for exposing him to improvisational skills and helped him develop a nimble musical ear. On many occasions Rex would have to anticipate his dad's segues, transitions and key changes, which many times came randomly, so he rarely knew when he would have to play a 4 minute solo or change keys! Rex had perhaps only two other direct musical influence. One was his only formal guitar teacher, Ted Shumate, who was really like a guitar Shaman for Rex. Ted Shumate, a world-renowned jazz guitarist/composer (myspace/tedshumate). The second major influence, Rex's good friend and "brother" Rod Musselman. Both Rex and Rod studied jazz improvisation under Ted Shumate. Ted's style of teaching really opened up the minds of both Rex and Rod and influenced everything from their approach to songwriting, texture choice and the mood of their sets when in concert.
In the early 90's Rex attended Jr. College for two years where he studied music theory. During this time Rex was a founding member and backbone of a band called Ellis Telly, a young bodacious "alternative band" (back when alternative was alternative -still) featuring the talented Kenny Watts as songwriter and rhythm guitarist. Ellis Telly ('88-'92) had the privalidge of opening up for bands like Toad The Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms and other national touring bands. Also, during the same time an award winning duo named Steel Tears, comprised of Rod Musselman and Rex Jones, which occasionally featured Shawn Malone (acoustic and frettless electric bass) and Alvon Griffin (afro-percussion). Steel Tears (89'-93') played a fusion of Flamenco, American Finger-style, Latin Jazz and Blues. Steel Tears was voted best duo in Florida in 1991 and released two favorably reviewed albums: Dance of the Gypsies and Palma Negra (soon to be re-released).
Yet, a third album previously unmixed has been in the wings for over 10 years. Steel Tears performed live at several festivals, museums, television and nationally syndicated radio shows. They opened up for international world music bands like: Flor de Cana, Huayucaltia, Sukia and did choreography work with the Florida Ballet. In 1994 the Spanish Ballet choreographed dance to original work written and recorded by Rod and Rex.
In 1995 Rex joined the Soulutions who entered the Atlanta club scene when no one else seemed to be playing with a full horn section anymore. The neuvo-mod-centric Soulutions, in under two years of it's existence managed to play some of the most covetous venues in the Atlanta area. With incredible potential and tons of inside drama The Solutions managed to put out a CD entitled "Necessary Madness", which was titled after a song written by Rex. The Soulutions toured and played mostly in the Southeast but had the privelige to open up for Tower of Power and The Commitments. In 1997 Rex bacame the guitarist for an Atlanta singer/songwriter, Alice Muson.
This was the band where he met songwriter/multi instrumentalist "Trenton Sicola" who was playing drums for the band at that time. Rex worked on Trenton's latest album in the Spring of 2006. Search myspace for "trentonsicola" to hear mp3 samples. Back in 2000 Rex met "Great Legacy" (Tre) while working at a local Atlanta health food store as an herbist (Rex has been a studying herbalist since his early teens). Search for "greatlegacy" on myspace to hear samples. Legacy has worked with top professionals in the music business, is incredibly talented, creative and has monstrous ears (...that is finely tuned ears). Legacy's love for music, perfection and production skills are emense. Rex and Legacy are co-CEO's of High Score Media LLC (www.highscoremedia.net /www.thekingsofsound.com) in Atlanta Ga, a film scoring co., that produces radio-ready pop music for The Kings Of Sound.
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