Quentin Jones
Quentin Jones is a Hall of Fame guitarist who is endorsed by Gretsch Guitars.
Quentin Jones has played and recorded guitar with some of the most important names in rock-and-roll history. Among them are Al Kooper, Graham Nash, Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits, Robert Gordon, Marshall Crenshaw, the Rockats, Linda Gail Lewis, Billy Burnett, Johnny Neel, Dee Dee Sharp, Kenny Aaronson, David Uosikkinen, Liberty Devitto, John Sebastian, and Charlie Gracie, who took Quentin on the road with him when he was the opening act for Van Morrison. Gracie talks about Jones’s talent and musical abilities in the book about Gracie’s life and career, Rock N Rolls Hidden Giant.
Quentin has own unique style and sound. He has gained fame playing rock-n-roll, blues, surf, rockabilly and old-time country and western. Quentin is endorsed by Gretsch guitars and in 2016 he was enshrined in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Nashville Tennessee.
Along with being one of today’s top guitarists, Quentin is a well-known music producer and songwriter. His music appears in movies, network television shows, DVDs and has be recorded by some of the world’s top artists.
Quentin’s music and projects have been covered by publications like Billboard Magazine, Mojo Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, Goldmine Magazine, The NY Daily News, the Philadelphia Inquirer...to name just a few. Quentin's musical achievements have gained him mentions in a number of books.
Quentin was featured in the Sept 2021 issue of Guitar Player Magazine in an article about Robert Gordon and the guitar players who helped him resurrect rockabilly music.
He is the founding member of the internationally known cult band the Reach Around Rodeo Clowns. The band has released six critically acclaimed albums that gained attention from fans, press and other artists, including some of rock's founding fathers, British Invasion bands and even author Stephen King!
Today Quentin can be heard and seen singing and playing guitar with his band mates, drummer David Uosikkinen and bassist Kenny Aaronson, as QDK. These three legendary musicians have joined forces to keep rock-and-roll, electric blues, surf, and rockabilly music alive and well into the 21st century. The band is currently producing new music in the studio.
Recently, QDK performed at the famed Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY for their 2021 holiday show. The band backed up former Fleetwood Mac member Billy Burnett, singer/songwriter Marshall Crenshaw, rockabilly legend Robert Gordon and John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful.
Quentin played guitar for Dr Harmonica’s Rockett 88. Rockett 88 made a name for itself playing rock, boogie and blues for more than 40 years. Quentin was the guitar player the band chose to represent them during their induction into the Delaware Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
If that’s not enough, Quentin performs his music solo with his big red Gretsch guitar at every conceivable type of event and venue.
When Quentin is not playing and recording music, he is teaching students how to play guitar or bass. Quentin teaches in person at his studio in Lancaster, PA, and online via Zoom and Facetime.
During Quentin’s “downtime” he takes care of and trains a rescued horse named Nevi. Nevi was on the way to be slaughtered for meat when he as saved and sent to Quentin’s brother's, Wendell Jones, farm. Wendell, who is also the singer in the Reach Around Rodeo Clowns, asked Quentin to help him at the stable during the shutdown of 2020. The bond between Quentin and Nevi grew so strong that Quentin adopted Nevi that summer.
Jones' musical career began humbly. He grew up in Lancaster, PA, where his father and grandfather were famous show-horse and harness-racing trainers. His first guitar was given to him by his older brother Bruce, which in true rock-and-roll fashion was stolen from his uncle. Quentin’s great grandmother, Catherine MacDonald, was known as the ‘Nightingale of Scotland." At the turn of the 20th century she came to the United States to attend the Boston Conservatory of Music and was mentored by Mrs. Andrew Carnegie. Sadly, soon after she came to America, she passed away. Jones’s great great great great grandfather was a pallbearer at George Washington;s funeral.
Quentin’s Mother, Lila Sands Jones was a lyric soprano who performed in opera, concert, radio and tv. She recorded for Vox Records in the early 1960s. She was a protégé of Helen Jepson, a Hollywood star and leading soprano at the Metropolitan Opera.
Quentin began writing songs and recording them in fifth grade, after hearing Paul McCartney’s solo album McCartney. In 1983, Jones started a mersybeat-based band called the Crooners. That group released an all-original 14-song album on Llist Records. The disc received glowing reviews; critics compared the band's sound to those of the early Beatles, Zombies and The Hollies.
Throughout his life, Quentin has had diverse musical taste. He was, though, particular to most of the British Invasion bands. Other influences gathered over the years included the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Hendrix, and many more. These artists, along with newer ones, would help shape Jones’ guitar playing and his sound .
Upcoming Shows
News
Quentin to play Gretsch Guitar Event NYC!
Check out the Story on Billy Burnette in the news! Quentin, David and Kenny will be backing him!
