Rondo
 STLBlues:
Welcome to STLBlues, and thanks for doing our online interview.
Let's start with where you were born.
Rondo: I was born in Brockton.Mass
STLBlues: Are you from St.
Louis?
Rondo: Since 1950..adopted
and raised in a north county town called Robertson.Mo
(no longer there,bought out by the airport)
STLBlues: What is your preferred
musical instrument?
Rondo: Nothing I like more
than any-other as far as listening, as long as its played
well..to play, I dabble in harmonica,percussion. My love
is vocals.
STLBlues: Who are some of
your musical influences?
Rondo: All the older guys.
Ray Charles,Muddy Waters,The Wolf, Jimmy Reed...etc. Early
Gospel Singers..Sam Cooke..J. Taylor.5 Blind Boys..we
would run out of space. Locally..Oliver Sain..Bankhead..There
used to be a place out on the corner of Bridgton .Mo called
Bolton Oak Groves, one could hear Wolf..Albert..BB..Muddy.and
so on..all pre 1964.
STLBlues: Was there music
around the house as you were growing up?
Rondo: That is a story all
by itself. My Grandmother on my Fathers side was a mezzo-soprano
with the Jubilee singers..an opera group who obtained
international recognition. Traveling worldwide,they were
major contributors in the building and founding of our
first african-american college..Fisk University, from
which my grandfather graduated. He later became the founder
of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Pensocola,Fla. My
Father, whom I never met, was the leader of a trio, THE
JONES BROTHERS, for a career spanning 50 yrs..Singing
out of Mass, they were worldwide travelers and recording
artists. Did not learn this until approx 5 yrs ago. Always
had a thing for performing.. long as I can remember!
STLBlues: Who do you like
to listen to?
Rondo: My 2 all time 'masters'?
Ray Charles..Muddy Waters... locally I like Bennie Smith..and
Oliver Sain.. Johnny Johnson (of course)!
STLBlues: Have you done any recordings?
Rondo: My 1st one was a 33rpm
on a 45rpm frame called "Crying In My Heart"
recorded 1966 at Oliver Sain's Studio. By ElRondo and
The Jades, it is non-existing..(thank god !) Second was
"The Soulard Blues Band" 1981 (out of print).
Third was "Rondo's Blues Deluxe" LIVE at BB
HILL 1987. 4th was "Shackpappys" in 1989. 5th
was "Crosseyed Cat" recorded in Holland 1991
still available from Tower Records on the 'Timeless' label.
STLBlues: What is your favorite
musical moment?
Rondo: Joe Cocker doing "High
With Some Help from my Friends" in the documentry
WOODSTOCK. The first to show me how to project ones self
from the inside outward.
STLBlues: What is your favorite
gig?
Rondo: Anywhere that we sound
good.
STLBlues: Describe your musical
path
Rondo: A long strange trip?
STLBlues: What are some of
your musical goals?
Rondo: Record more! Leave
some good stuff.
STLBlues: What do you think
of the state of St. Louis Blues?
Rondo: Fairly stagnant..but
slowly warming..we are all starting to slip away. |
