Curtis Jones

The blues standard "Tin Pan Alley" owes its origins to pianist Curtis Jones, who also scored a notable 1937 hit with "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" on Vocalion, a track prompted by the end of his marriage. Jones began as a guitarist before turning to piano following his relocation to Dallas. He reached Chicago in 1936 and cut sides for Vocalion, Bluebird, and OKeh between 1937 and 1941. World War II halted his studio work until 1953, when influential disc jockey Al Benson released the lone single "Wrong Blues"/"Cool Playing Blues" on Parrot, featuring L.C. McKinley on guitar. Jones issued his first album, Trouble Blues, in 1960 on Prestige's Bluesville imprint, backed by seasoned New York session players and Chicago guitarist Johnny "Big Moose" Walker. His listenership had begun to change markedly by then, placing him regularly on the city's folk scene. The 1962 solo set Lonesome Bedroom Blues appeared on Delmark and included authoritative versions of both the title track and "Tin Pan Alley." Jones departed Chicago for good in January 1962, taking up residence in Europe where he performed widely across the continent until his death in 1971.