Justin Jones’ recommendation: “Ray Charles and Otis are the only singers I really truly admire. I can hear other singers and like it, but nobody touches Otis or Ray. When I’m on the road, I always listen to I Love You More Than Words Can Say. That one’s for me and my wife. It’s just perfect soul music. No bullshit. His singing is simultaneously effortless and strained. It’s amazing. And Dock of the Bay was my dad’s favorite song so that means a lot to me as well. The last time I saw him before his death we sang it together, me on guitar and him on harmonica.”

Justin Jones’ Otis Redding album pick: Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay

About our guest author, Justin Jones: If you live in the DC area and you’re a live music fan, then you most definitely have been to the area’s premiere venue, The 9:30 Club. The club and its co-owner Seth Hurwitz see a ton of great acts fly on and off of their stage, but when it came time for Seth to create a record label, he recruited Justin Jones to be the first act to record for his newly launched 930 Records. Give the self titled track from Jones’ new EP Little Fox a listen (MP3 below) and you’ll hear why Justin was given the honor of being the label’s first round draft pick. “You can imagine I’ve been exposed to more music than most,” Hurwitz says, “but once in a very blue moon, a new artist stops me dead in my tracks.” Jones has also caught a lot of attention with his live performances where has been seen opening for heavy weights like Loretta Lynn, Alejandro Escovedo and Levon Helm. Don’t miss the opportunity to see him open for Sheryl Crow in the coming weeks. Check Justin-Jones.com for the full tour schedule.

MP3: Little Fox by Justin Jones