Soulcravers Radio With Special Guest Shirley Jones Of The Jones Girls

In 1979 The Jones Girls “You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else” showed
Gamble and Huff still had the magic touch. The classic went top ten on Billboards’
R& B and Disco Charts. However, lead singer Shirley Jones and sisters Brenda and
Valorie was not new to the game. Gospel singer Mary Frazier Jones groomed her
daughter's unique harmonies when they were babies in their hometown Detroit.
By the time Shirley and her sisters signed with Philadelphia International Records,
they were teenage veterans. The Jones Girls traveled the world for several years
with fellow Detroiter Diana Ross as her backup singers. Ms. Ross even let the girls
shine with their own spot where they sang “If I Ever Lose This Heaven.” Diana
Ross told Gamble and Huff that The Jones Girls were too good to be anybody’s
back-up singers forever.Those Philly years provided Shirley and her sisters with a string of hits. They include “Who Can I Run To,” “I Just Love The Man,” “Dance Turned Into ARomance” and their Grammy-nominated classic “Nights Over Egypt.” After a brief,unsuccessful stay at RCA Records, The Jones Girls decided to take a hiatus.Brenda got married, and Valorie entered college. But Shirley still wanted to sing.She returned to Philadelphia International Records in 1985 as a solo artist.Shirleys’ 1986 Debut album “Always In The Mood” proved she could handle thespotlight alone. Her 1986 classic “Do You Get Enough Love” stayed number one onBillboards R&B Charts for Shirleys New Album My Time To Shine released in October of 2015; It contains a duet with the late,great Mel Waiters and a remake of I’m At Your Mercy, a Jones Girls classic.