Carvin Jones was born in Lufkin, Texas in June, 1966. At a very young age, he was seduced to the blues by listening to BB King records his grandfather constantly played in the house. At age 11, Carvin remembers "my grandmother bought me my first guitar because I would borrow other people´s and when they came back to get them, I´d bum out. She took me downtown and bought me a guitar. I´ll never forget that day." Carvin recalls "my part of town was a rough neighborhood with a capital ´R´. I saw people litterally get killed - shot, stabbed, whatever. The guitar kept me out of trouble because I was always inside playing the guitar away from that."
For a few years after high school, Carvin was performing small gigs around Texas. He decided to move to Arizona for a change of pace. In 1989, he moved in with his aunt and uncle, The Rev. Henry Adams and his wife Mattie, in their home in south Phoenix. “They took me in and I owe all my success to them. If it weren´t for them, there wouldn´t be any Carvin Jones” he says.
Working various jobs around Phoenix, Carvin had an epiphany on June 22, 1990 - the day, longtime residents will recall, the thermometer hit 122 degrees. “I was doing construction - not a tree in sight, no shade, guys were getting taken away in ambulances. I said to myself 'there´s no way I´m going to keep doing this. I`m going to bust my butt to play music so I never have to do this again'."
Thus, the first incarnation of the "Carvin Jones Band" was formed, and he began taking gigs anywhere they could get bookings. ”We´d go in and play for hamburgers and soda pop” Carvin laughs.
By March, 1991, the Band had gained tremendous popularity, and were playing at clubs all over the Valley. They have maintained a consistent seven nights-a-week performance schedule since then. In March 2000, Carvin celebrated his 3000th performance!
Over the past 10 years, the Carvin Jones Band has opened for guitar legends BB King, Santana and Albert King, and has performed with Joe Cocker and the Fabulous Thunderbird's at the House of Blues 1996 Tour in Phoenix. The Band opened for REO Speedwagon in 1998 at New Year's Eve, and has been a feature band of Fiesta Bowl's New Year's Eve Block Parties for the past two years.
The Carvin Jones Music Show, a 1/2 hour cable TV show promo, included interviews with Carvin, performance clips, local gig calendar, and website plug. The Show aired during February-March, 2000, once a week, on various local Arizona cable channels. The Band has also been featured on Arizona Channel 3's morning program for their local band spotlight.
I met up with Carvin Jones for his soundcheck at Songbird Live in Cleburne, TX for a quick interview and some candid photos taken in the dark.
Alan Mercer: Carvin, you are one of the hardest working men in show business.
Carvin Jones: Ever since James Brown left us, somebody has to do it. (Laughter)
AM: When did you start playing guitar?
CJ: I started playing guitar when I was 7 years old. I played guitar because I love it. I have never played for any other reason, but for the love of the instrument.
AM: Did you have any mentors growing up?
CJ: No, I did this all on my own.
AM: Well, at least you know it’s a God given gift.
CJ: Thank you Jesus. I’ve been blessed 10 times over.
AM: There are so many Blues guitarists in the world. Why do you think you have been so successful?
CJ: You tell me why you think I’ve been successful and then I’ll tell you what I think.
AM: I think you are successful because you have the talent, charisma, the drive, and the work ethic.
CJ: Yes, the work ethic is so important, even more than talent. The others don’t have the chutzpah. (Laughter) They also don’t have the intestinal fortitude. My grandmother taught me to work hard before I left home. To me, this isn’t even work. I play small and large venues exactly the same. I’ve had 60,000 people who all came to see Carvin Jones.
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AM: I can’t get over your schedule of one-night stands.
CJ: I love it. All these one nighters are called Ball Busters.
AM: How do you maintain your energy level?
CJ: I’ve never drank or smoked a cigarette in my whole life and I’m in the gym six days a week.
AM: You look young and fit.
CJ: I am 55 years old. Some people have thought I was in my 30’s. I have taken good care of myself.
AM: That is amazing.
CJ: It’s the Blues and Rock n Roll that keeps me fit. I’m going to tell you something else that will shock you. I personally book every single show I do. I’m in charge of everything. I’m my own manager and my own PR man.
AM: A lot of musicians just can’t do all that. They don’t have the business understanding.
CJ: I learned this technique from Prince. The last year of his life, he did several smaller shows. People were asking why he would do a two thousand seat show when he could play Madison Square Garden and make more money? He said his fans were willing to pay more, like $500 a ticket, and they did. He said he made the same amount of money, and he was in charge, instead of Live Nation, who wants a 40% fee. So, that’s what I did.
AM: What is one of your favorite songs that you have written?
CJ: A song called ‘Midnight Seduction.’ I play it every night on tour, and it always gets a thunderous ovation.
AM: When will you be recording more new music?
CJ: I will be going back in the studio again, but ever since the CD business went down, you spend a lot of money and then everyone downloads it for free on the internet. It’s really not even worth it anymore.
AM: What about just releasing a single song?
CJ: Yes, I will do something like that.
AM: You have a pretty solid fan base that see you over and over again.
CJ: In Phoenix I sure do. I will also tell you that when I go to a new city or venue that I’ve never played at before, I will walk on stage and get a standing ovation. Why do you think that happens?
AM: I think it’s because people watch your videos on YouTube, but that is not common.
CJ: It’s from the front row to the balcony, I get a standing ovation. I’m thankful for everything I’ve ever gotten.
AM: Carvin, you are always running around doing good deeds and helping people.
CJ: I share the wealth. I am blessed to be able to take the money from my own pocket.
AM: I believe it comes back to you tenfold.
CJ: It does come back. I am blessed to be my own boss. I can’t stress enough how happy that makes me. I play in over 35 countries. I travel the world and I don’t have to answer to anybody.
