Being raised in Texas where
hardcore country music is more than a style.. it's a way of life, Zona and his college
buddies put together a band, "Swing West" and began to play around town, They
did very well playing in the area hot spots. After passing the bar (the legal one, that
is) he ended up in Beaumont, TX. The secretaries in the law office heard about his great
voice and urged him to perform at one a famous clubs called "Cutters" and the
gals quickly became the first of his many fans. Needless to say, he was also
following in the boot heels of some of the top Texas country stars such as Mark Chesnutt,
Tracy Byrd and Clay Walker. Zona staged his debut at the nearby Armadillo club on July 30,
1993. Soon they were playing the regional hot spots, "Get Down Brown's",
"Phaz II", "Bourbon Street" as well as "Cutter's".
After Clay Walker left the Neon Armadillo club, Zona and "Swing West" became the
house band.
Within two years of his stage
debut, Zona Jones was set to follow his predecessors to Nashville. In 1995 he was signed
to a "development deal" by Warner Bro. Records, but after two years of song
searches and studio experiments, the label deemed he was "too country" and
decided not to add him to the roster. The tale goes on with a lot of interesting twists,
all of which led him to work with the famed producer, Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Faith
Hill, Jo Dee Messina, Phil Vassar and many more). Byron helped Zona to refine his sound
during the Warner years. When Zona began work on "Harleys & Horses" in 1999,
he recruited the producer to craft its first four tracks.
I could go on and on about
Zona's transition from a Texas lawyer to a Nashville recording artists but hey, you can
read all about that in his bio... I do believe y'all are here to hear about the music...
am I right? :)
It took more than 2 1/2 years to
complete "Harleys & Horses"... the 10th anniversary of Zona Jones' stage
debut in Beaumont.
The wait was well worth it and
hearing the music, you can tell there was blood, sweat, heart and soul poured into this
project. The title song, written by Zach Turner and Tim Nichols (of "Turner and
Nichols" songwriting/singing duo) sounds like Zona's biography. And for those of you
who may think 13 is an unlucky number, think again! Zona's newly released CD,
"Harleys & Horses" is filled with 13 traditional country songs reaching
every range of your heartbeat... be it love-lorn or honky tonkin', there's a song for
everyone, and I can safely bet that everyone will love all thirteen songs! It takes you
back to places you'd forgotten, then picks your weary self up with a honky tonkin' boot
kickin' tow tappin' rhythm. As a matter of fact, "Two Hearts" is already a
wedding favorite in Texas! There's even a song about a "house of ill repute" or
as Zona puts it, "House of Negotiable Affection", proving you can take the
briefcase away from the lawyer and replace it with a guitar, but he'll remain
"politically correct"!
I don't think I have to say a
lot to sell you on Zona Jones of his CD, "Harleys & Horses". His voice
is flawless and his choice of songs are perfect for his style. The music's arrangements
are built around the man in front... there to complitment his talent, not drown it out.
Just play the samples below and I guarantee, if you really love true grit, down to earth,
real country music, it just don't get any better than this! My hat's off to you,
counselor! The jury is in and you've been found guilty of producing a hit album! I hereby
sentence you to make another as soon as possible!!
Marlene Slater (Marli)
© 9-23-05
