Marshall Eugene "Rock" Jones (January 1, 1941 – May 27, 2016), professionally known as Rock Jones, was an American bass player. He is best known as a founding member and bassist of the funk, soul music and R&B band Ohio Players.
Marshall "Rock" Jones | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Marshall Eugene Jones |
| Also known as | Rock Jones |
| Born | January 1, 1941 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | May 27, 2016 (aged 75) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Funk |
| Occupation | Bass player |
| Instrument | bass guitar |
Marshall "Rock" Jones was born in Dayton, Ohio. He was with the band, when it was first formed in Dayton in 1959 as the Ohio Untouchables and initially included members Robert Ward (vocals/guitar), Marshall "Rock" Jones (bass), Clarence "Satch" Satchell (saxophone/guitar), Cornelius Johnson (drums), and Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks (trumpet/trombone). They were best known at the time as a backing group for The Falcons. Jones was known for wearing a turban on stage.[1] With the Ohio Players he had #1 hits "Fire" (1974) and "Love Rollercoaster" (1975) on the Billboard Hot 100. He stayed with the band through 1984.
He was the last surviving member from the Ohio Untouchables line-up, and died of cancer in Houston, Texas, at age 75.[2][3][4]
References
edit- ^ DTN Staff (May 28, 2016). "Gem City native 'Rock' Jones dies". WDTN. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- ^ McGinn, Andrew (May 30, 2009). "Ohio Players bassist retires to funky town — Jamestown". Springfield News-Sun. Cox Media Group. Archived from the original on October 3, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Robinson, Amelia (May 27, 2016). "Legendary Ohio Players member dies". Dayton.com. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio Players bassist Marshall Jones dies at 75". Philadelphia Tribune. May 27, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
