Deming is influenced by the guitar playing of T-Bone Walker, Charlie Christian, Luther Tucker and Robert Lockwood Jr.[1] From humble beginnings in the early 1990s, performing in the clubs of Detroit, Michigan, Deming and his band have toured and recorded with Kim Wilson, Lazy Lester, Gary Primich, Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones, A.C. Reed, and Alberta Adams.
[2] The band's frontman, Doug Deming, was born in the east side of Detroit, Michigan, United States,[3] in 1970,[4] although he currently resides in the Gulf Coast of Florida.
[1] At the age of 16, Deming drove from his then home in Detroit across Eight Mile Road, to the renovated Fox Theatre.
[3] Their debut album, Double Down (2002), had guest appearances by Chris Codish (organ), Denny Freeman (piano), Rick Holmstrom (guitar), and Greg "Fingers" Taylor (harmonica).
[3] Three cuts included Motor City Horns veterans Keith Kaminski (saxophone) and John Rutherford (trombone), plus Dwight Adams (trumpet).
[7] However, changing local economic conditions, and the threat to privacy posed by the presence of a Burger King outlet next to their family home, saw Deming and his wife Claudia relocate to close to Tampa Bay, Florida.
In 2008, Gruenling had recorded his album, I Just Keep Lovin' Him : A Tribute to Little Walter, and in touring to promote the collection, decided to use Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones as his backing ensemble.
Dennis Gruenling featuring Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones played at the 2014 Bradenton Blues Festival.
[5] Over the years, the Jewel Tones have included the drummers Julian Van Slyke, Devin Neel, and acoustic bassist Bob Conner[7][1] plus, more latterly, Andrew Gohman (upright and electric bass), Sam Farmer (drums) and Dave Cotton (saxophone).