The Jones Girls

History

The Jones Girls were a trio of sisters: Shirley, Brenda, and Valorie Jones. They got their start singing backup for major acts like Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, and Le Pamplemousse. From 1975 to 1978, they worked with Diana Ross, and they also sang on Linda Clifford’s 1978 album If My Friends Could See Me Now. They appeared on Tower of Power’s 1979 disco album Back on the Streets.

Their biggest hit, “You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else,” reached number 38 on the Billboard Top 40 in May 1979 and became a gold record. Another single, “I Just Love The Man,” charted at number 9 in January 1981. The 1981 track “Nights Over Egypt,” written by Dexter Wansel, peaked at number 23 on the R&B chart in 1982. After their fourth album, On Target, failed, lead singer Shirley went solo.

Her 1986 song “Do You Get Enough Love,” written and produced by Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble, hit number 1 on the R&B chart. Valorie died on December 2, 2001, in Detroit at age 45. In 2007, Shirley released the album Ladies Night Out with Jean Carn and Cherrelle. Brenda moved to Atlanta, performing jazz and R&B with her band, then later relocated to New York.

On April 3, 2017, while visiting her daughter in Wilmington, Delaware, she was struck and killed by multiple cars while crossing the street. She was 62. Shirley still performs as the Jones Girls, backed by two of her nieces and a nephew.

Did You Know?

• The original version of 'Who Can I Run To' was the B-side of 'You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else'.
• Xscape covered 'Who Can I Run To' in 1995, making it a number 1 R&B and number 8 pop hit.
• 'Nights Over Egypt' was covered by Incognito on their album No Time Like The Future and by Dexter Wansel himself in 2019.