Puma Jones: Difference between revisions

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== Career ==
== Career ==
Born in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], Jones graduated from [[Columbia University]] in New York City with a [[master's degree]] and served as a [[social worker]].<ref name="Midnight">{{cite web|title=Exclusive! Rare Puma Jones (Black Uhuru) Interview, August 12, 1984|url=http://midnightraverblog.com/2012/06/exclusive-rare-puma-jones-black-uhuru-interview-august-12-1984-midnight-dread-radio/|publisher=Midnight Dread Radio|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> She studied dance with the Chuck Davis troupe where she took a particular interest in African dance. After becoming disillusioned with city life she declared a need to "discover her roots" and moved to [[Jamaica]].<ref name="Island">Liner notes, ''Black Uhuru, Liberation: The Island Anthology'', Island Records, 1993.</ref>
Born in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], Jones graduated from [[Columbia University]] in New York City with a [[master's degree]] and served as a [[social worker]].<ref name="Midnight">{{cite web|title=Exclusive! Rare Puma Jones (Black Uhuru) Interview, August 12, 1984|url=http://midnightraverblog.com/2012/06/exclusive-rare-puma-jones-black-uhuru-interview-august-12-1984-midnight-dread-radio/|publisher=Midnight Dread Radio|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> She studied dance with the [[Chuck Davis (dancer)]] troupe where she took a particular interest in African dance. After becoming disillusioned with city life she declared a need to "discover her roots" and moved to [[Jamaica]].<ref name="Island">Liner notes, ''Black Uhuru, Liberation: The Island Anthology'', Island Records, 1993.</ref>


Deciding to build a singing career, Jones briefly sang with [[Miriam Makeba]] (then using the name Mama Africa),<ref>{{cite web|title=Puma Jones – Black Uhuru|url=https://www.iriemag.com/2016/10/roots-puma-jones-black-uhuru/|website=IRIE|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> and sang with the band Sons of Negus led by [[Ras Michael]].<ref name="Thompson">{{cite book|last1=Thompson|first1=Dave|title=Reggae and Caribbean Music|date=2002|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=0-87930-655-6|pages=38–39}}</ref> In 1978, she was introduced by a mutual friend to Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, the leader of reggae group [[Black Uhuru]]. That group was undergoing a significant lineup change that also included the addition of singer [[Michael Rose (singer)|Michael Rose]].<ref name="Island" /> Jones became a full member of Black Uhuru and sang on seven studio albums, starting with ''[[Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (album)|Showcase]]'' in 1979 and also including the critically acclaimed ''[[Red (Black Uhuru album)|Red]]'' in 1981 and the Grammy Award-winning ''[[Anthem (Black Uhuru album)|Anthem]]'' in 1983.<ref name=allmusic-charts>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r103367|tab=charts-awards/grammy |label="''Anthem'' > Charts & Awards > Grammy Awards" |accessdate=12 November 2010}}</ref> That album won the award for Best Reggae Album in 1985, the first year of that award's existence.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall|last = Moskowitz|first = David Vlado|publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group|year = 2006|isbn = 0313331588|pages = 268}}</ref>
Deciding to build a singing career, Jones briefly sang with [[Miriam Makeba]] (then using the name Mama Africa),<ref>{{cite web|title=Puma Jones – Black Uhuru|url=https://www.iriemag.com/2016/10/roots-puma-jones-black-uhuru/|website=IRIE|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> and sang with the band Sons of [[Negus]] led by [[Ras Michael]].<ref name="Thompson">{{cite book|last1=Thompson|first1=Dave|title=Reggae and Caribbean Music|date=2002|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=0-87930-655-6|pages=38–39}}</ref> In 1978, she was introduced by a mutual friend to Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, the leader of reggae group [[Black Uhuru]]. That group was undergoing a significant lineup change that also included the addition of singer [[Michael Rose (singer)|Michael Rose]].<ref name="Island" /> Jones became a full member of Black Uhuru and sang on seven studio albums, starting with ''[[Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (album)|Showcase]]'' in 1979 and also including the critically acclaimed ''[[Red (Black Uhuru album)|Red]]'' in 1981 and the Grammy Award-winning ''[[Anthem (Black Uhuru album)|Anthem]]'' in 1983.<ref name=allmusic-charts>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r103367|tab=charts-awards/grammy |label="''Anthem'' > Charts & Awards > Grammy Awards" |accessdate=12 November 2010}}</ref> That album won the award for Best Reggae Album in 1985, the first year of that award's existence.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall|last = Moskowitz|first = David Vlado|publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group|year = 2006|isbn = 0313331588|pages = 268}}</ref>


Jones was noted for adding lyrics on religious and social topics to Black Uhuru songs, during a period when reggae musicians were often accused of being trite and dismissive of women, and she was also known for her haunting voice.<ref name="Midnight" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Farah|first1=Sandra|title=Black Uhuru|url=https://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/farah.html|website=The Dread Library|access-date=24 April 2018|date=April 1998}}</ref> Her last full album with the group was ''[[Brutal (Black Uhuru album)|Brutal]]'' in 1986, which was nominated for another Grammy Award and reached the charts in New Zealand and the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/black-uhuru|title=Black Uhuru|date=May 14, 2017|work=[[Grammys]]|access-date=February 24, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Before sessions began for the album ''[[Positive (Black Uhuru album)|Positive]]'' in 1987, Jones was diagnosed with [[breast cancer]]. She had to withdraw from Black Uhuru and was replaced by singer Olafunke. Jones returned to the United States for treatment and died at age 36 on January 28, 1990. She was buried near her family home in South Carolina.<ref name="Island" />
Jones was noted for adding lyrics on religious and social topics to Black Uhuru songs, during a period when reggae musicians were often accused of being trite and dismissive of women, and she was also known for her haunting voice.<ref name="Midnight" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Farah|first1=Sandra|title=Black Uhuru|url=https://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/farah.html|website=The Dread Library|access-date=24 April 2018|date=April 1998}}</ref> Her last full album with the group was ''[[Brutal (Black Uhuru album)|Brutal]]'' in 1986, which was nominated for another Grammy Award and reached the charts in New Zealand and the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/black-uhuru|title=Black Uhuru|date=May 14, 2017|work=[[Grammys]]|access-date=February 24, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Before sessions began for the album ''[[Positive (Black Uhuru album)|Positive]]'' in 1987, Jones was diagnosed with [[breast cancer]]. She had to withdraw from Black Uhuru and was replaced by singer Olafunke. Jones returned to the United States for treatment and died at age 36 on January 28, 1990. She was buried near her family home in South Carolina.<ref name="Island" />

Latest revision as of 11:36, 26 June 2025

Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other Sandra "Puma" Jones (October 5, 1953—January 28, 1990) was an American singer, best known as a member of the Grammy Award-winning reggae group Black Uhuru.

Career

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Jones graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a master's degree and served as a social worker.[1] She studied dance with the Chuck Davis (dancer) troupe where she took a particular interest in African dance. After becoming disillusioned with city life she declared a need to "discover her roots" and moved to Jamaica.[2]

Deciding to build a singing career, Jones briefly sang with Miriam Makeba (then using the name Mama Africa),[3] and sang with the band Sons of Negus led by Ras Michael.[4] In 1978, she was introduced by a mutual friend to Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, the leader of reggae group Black Uhuru. That group was undergoing a significant lineup change that also included the addition of singer Michael Rose.[2] Jones became a full member of Black Uhuru and sang on seven studio albums, starting with Showcase in 1979 and also including the critically acclaimed Red in 1981 and the Grammy Award-winning Anthem in 1983.[5] That album won the award for Best Reggae Album in 1985, the first year of that award's existence.[6]

Jones was noted for adding lyrics on religious and social topics to Black Uhuru songs, during a period when reggae musicians were often accused of being trite and dismissive of women, and she was also known for her haunting voice.[1][7] Her last full album with the group was Brutal in 1986, which was nominated for another Grammy Award and reached the charts in New Zealand and the Netherlands.[8] Before sessions began for the album Positive in 1987, Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had to withdraw from Black Uhuru and was replaced by singer Olafunke. Jones returned to the United States for treatment and died at age 36 on January 28, 1990. She was buried near her family home in South Carolina.[2]

References

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External links

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c Liner notes, Black Uhuru, Liberation: The Island Anthology, Island Records, 1993.
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ "Anthem > Charts & Awards > Grammy Awards" at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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