From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Tue Nov 12, 2002 6:17 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Booker T. Jones BOOKER T. JONES Born 12 November 1944, Memphis, Tennessee Organist, group leader, producer. In 1962, Booker T. Jones formed the interracial group the Booker T. & the MG's (an acronym for "Memphis Group"), with Steve Cropper (guitar), Lewis Steinberg (bass) and the late Al Jackson Jr. (drums). Their first record, "Green Onions", was the biggest hit of their career (# 3 pop, # 1 R&B). It was originally released on Volt, then on the Stax label from Memphis, and marked the start of one of America's most readily identifiable instrumental groups. Steinberg was soon replaced by Donald 'Duck' Dunn, who had played in the Mar-Keys ("Last Night") with Steve Cropper. Booker T. and the MG's became the studio house band at Stax during the 1960's, playing on records by acts like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Eddie Floyd. "Green Onions" was followed by seventeen other hits on the Billboard pop lists (1962-71), with "Hang 'em High" and "Time Is Tight" going Top 10. From 1962 through 1966, in addition to working in the Stax rhythm section, Booker was attending Indiana University in Bloomington. Driving the 400 miles to Memphis on weekends, and flying from Indianapolis' airport for gigs, Booker finally earned the Bachelor of Music Education Degree, completing his senior recital on trombone. Booker T. & the MG's disbanded in 1971. In the 1970's, as a producer in Los Angeles, Booker not only put hits on the pop charts, he produced three of the pivotal records in the career of one of country music's biggest stars, Willie Nelson, including the multi-platinum selling 'Stardust' album. Jones produced and arranged other hits on the West Coast, including Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine' album, and Rita Coolidge's 'Higher and Higher,' and 'We're All Alone'. In California, Booker played on albums by Bobby Darin, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan ('Billy The Kid'), Stephen Stills ('Love The One You're With'), and Barbara Streisand ('Evergreen'). It was during this period that Jones recorded five solo LP's for A&M, Epic, and MCA Record companies. In the eighties, Booker played on albums by Boz Scaggs, Soul Asylum, John Lee Hooker, and Kris Kristofferson. As Booker T., he managed a substantial seller of his own in 1981 with "I Want You" for A&M (# 35 R&B). In 1992, Booker T. & the MG's were honoured to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, serving as the house band for its legendary opening ceremonies concert in Cleveland, Ohio in 1995. Later the band received a Grammy for its single, "Cruisin'," and was presented with the Rhythm and Blues Association's Pioneer Award. After reforming in the mid-eighties for Atlantic Records' 25th Anniversary Concert, the MG's were the house band for Bob Dylan's famous Tribute Concert in 1991 at Madison Square Garden featuring George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Sinead O'Connor. In 1993, the band joined Neil Young for a successful tour of Europe and the United States. At present, Booker is living in northern California with his wife Nan and three children, playing occasional dates with Booker T. and the MG's and with groups around the Bay Area. He is currently writing songs for a new solo album and is set to compose music for the upcoming Empress of the Blues, a movie on the life of Bessie Smith. CD: Very Best Of Booker T. & the MG's (Rhino, 16 tracks), or Time Is Tight (Fantasy / Stax). 3 CD-set. More info: http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=69