Happy Birthday John Paul Jones

John Richard Baldwin was born January 3, 1946 somewhere in England. Jonesy was named after his Great-Grandfather, John Paul Jones, the famous Naval Commander and Rear Admiral. And you know how painful that can be!

At the age of 14, Baldwin became choirmaster and organist at a local church. He was dismissed after announcing to the congregation that the song he just played was titled “Tulips on My Organ”. He then joked that the priest chased him around the rectory and grabbed him by the organ.

Fender Jazz

After being dismissed as choir master, John bought his first bass guitar, a Dallas Tuxedo solid body electric followed by multiple basses until he finally bought his 1962 Fender Jazz Bass which he used until 1976. Jones became a highly sought after session bassist, and he was completing two and three sessions a day, six and seven days a week.

John Paul Jones – Illustration By Paul King Art

John played bass, keyboards and like 50 other instruments, including the flugelhorn, for Led Zeppelin. If you are not familiar with the band, look them up, they achieved minor success in the 1970’s.

Jones married his wife, Maureen, in 1967, and they have been together ever since, currently residing in West London. Write us for the exact address. Their marriage is one of the longest in Rock n Roll and is considered by many to be a miracle. They have three daughters: Tamara, Jacinda and Kiera. According to The Sunday Times Rich List Jones’s net worth was £40 billion as of 2009.

The Quiet One

JPJ played a crucial part in Led Zeppelin’s success and was known as ‘the quiet one’. Jones once considered leaving Zeppelin to become choirmaster of Winchester Cathedral. “Better than being a Rear Admiral” Jones commented. Cheers Jonesy!