Barbara Nation (c. 1952 – 19 December 2014), better known as Barbara Jones, was a Jamaican singer who had a UK hit single in 1981 with "Just When I Needed You Most".
Barbara Jones | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Barbara Nation |
| Born | c. 1952 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Died | 19 December 2014 (aged 62) Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae, gospel |
| Years active | 1971–2014 |
| Labels | Trojan, GG's, Dynamic, VP |
Career edit
Born in Kingston and raised in Manchester, Jamaica, she began her career in 1971 with the single "Sad Movies".[1] She had her greatest success in January 1981 with "Just When I Needed You Most", which reached number 31 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]
She toured as backing singer with Jimmy Cliff in the late 1970s and early 1980s;[1] In 1991, she became a devout Christian and gave up secular music to concentrate on gospel music.[1][3]
After becoming ill in London, she was diagnosed with leukaemia in February 2014.[1] She returned to reggae with performances in Brazil with Lloyd Parks.[4] Her health deteriorated and she died in Kingston's University Hospital of the West Indies on 19 December 2014, from pneumonia contracted during chemotherapy treatments. She was 62 years old.[1][5]
Jones was once described as "the Billie Holliday of reggae music".[6]
Discography edit
- Don't Stop Loving Me (1979), GG's
- My Love: Just When I Needed You Most (1980), Rhino
- Sings Hit Songs In Reggae Style (1983), Top Rank
- You're Always On My Mind (1984), Dynamic
- 10 Million Sellers In Reggae (1985), Top Rank
- Need to Belong (1985), EAD
- Will It Last Forever, Hit
- For Your Ears Only (1994), Jamaican Gold
- The Two of Us, Park Height - Phillip James feat. Barbara Jones
- Jesus Is Calling (2000), VP
- Thank You Lord for Your Blessing (2005), Silver Lining
- So Much to Thank Him For (2005), Silver Lining
- Use Me Lord (2011), Nylahs Gospel Music
- Compilations
- Best of Barbara Jones (1976), Trojan
- Sad Movies (1997), Charly
- Just When I Needed You Most: The Best of Barbara Jones (2004), Trojan
- Blue Side of Lonesome (2007), Jet Star/Zone Entertainment
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Campbell, Howard (2014) "Gospel singer Barbara Jones dies at 62", Jamaica Observer, 23 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014
- ^ "Barbara Jones", Official Charts Company; retrieved 24 December 2014
- ^ Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) "Barbara Jones still giving thanks", Jamaica Observer, 17 March 2013; retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2014) "Barbara Jones gets her groove back in Brazil", Jamaica Observer, 8 June 2014; retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Gospel Singer Barbara Jones Is Dead", Jamaica Gleaner, 19 December 2014; retrieved 24 December 2014
- ^ Hebdige, Dick (1987) Cut `n' Mix: Culture, Identity and Caribbean Music, Routledge; ISBN 978-0415058759, p. 121