Jones was born in Naples, Texas,[1] to sharecropping parents,[2] and played guitar whilst young but switched to piano after a move to Dallas.

Among his best-known tunes from these recordings were the hit "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" and the song "Tin Pan Alley".

[3] His "Decoration Blues" though unissued at the time, was recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson I in 1938.

Jones's first album appeared in 1960 on Bluesville, by which time he had become a noted performer on the Chicago folk music scene.

[3] He made further albums in the UK, including one in 1968 that featured Alexis Korner on guitar.