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Interviews with Johnnie B. Jones, February 2, 2003, April 14, 2003

 File — Bag: \folklife\prj1014\, Folder: 003_jones-johnnie
Collection number: PRJ1014-003

Scope and Contents

Oral history interview with Johnnie B. Jones, aka Man Jones regarding Shape note singing and Sacred Harp music. Cuthbert, Georgia. Recorded February 2, 2003 and April 14, 2003. Fieldworker: Kuanita E. Murphy. From the South Georgia Folklife Collection at Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections.

Contents

  1. Interview with Johnnie B. Jones, February 2, 2003. At the home of Mr. Johnnie B. Jones Cuthbert, Georgia. Fieldworker: Kuanita E. Murphy.
  2. Interview with Johnnie B. Jones, April 14, 2003. At the home of Mr. Johnnie B. Jones, Cuthbert, Georgia. Fieldworker: Kuanita E. Murphy. Topics include Shape note singing and Sacred Harp music.

call_number: PRJ-1012

project_title: Student Project

equipment_used: Sony Stereo Cassette TC DSPRO

informant_name: Johnnie B. Jones

fieldworker: Kuanita E. Murphy

recording_engineer: Kuanita E. Murphy

date: 2/2/2003

recording_location: "Cuthbert, GA"

content_summary: Interview with Mr. Johnnie B. Jones about the craft of Sacred Harp Singing

notes: "Three tapes exist, CAS-1012.38 and 1012.42, in addition to this one."

index_of_contents: index exists

consent_form: Yes

transcription: No

access_copy: No

technical_summary: "Good, Some interference such as doors opening and closing and cars passing by."

genre: "religious music, singing, shape note music"

places: "Cuthbert, Ga, Randolph County."

people: Annie Murphy

groups: Piney Grove Missionary Baptist church

keywords: "Shape note singing,"

TAPE INDEX 004 Interview questionnaire form

053 His knowledge of the shaped-note singing

058 Shaped-note singing in Randolph County

061 How he learned about shaped-note singing and his experiences

074 Singing schools in Randolph County, GA/; conventions

090 Structure change of conventions/singings

098 Singing teachers/His career as a singing teacher

109 Characteristics of a singing teacher

153 Who would attend the singing schools/ages?

165 Decrease in tradition because of lack of youth interest

175 Shape-note singing at Piney Grove Missionary

Baptist Church

185 Willing to teach shaped notes to others

190 Mixed races attending and participating in the conventions/singings

208 Individuals left in Randolph County, GA to continue the tradition

216 Shape-note singing at Piney Grove and how it changed

223 “…Pastor should be interested in these things…”

233 Singing convention today: state and local

246 End of Interview

item_title: Johnnie B. Jones

call_number: PRJ-1012

project_title: Student Project

equipment_used: Soney Stereo Cassette-Corder TC-D5PROII

informant_name: Johnnie B. Jones

fieldworker: Kuanita E. Murphy

recording_engineer: Kuanita E. Murphy

date: 4/14/2003

recording_location: "Cuthbert, GA"

content_summary: Examples of Shapenote Singing from many different churches. Seems to be a 4 tape series of shape note singing across a variety of Randolph county churches.

notes: "four tapes exist, according to the tape log."

index_of_contents: Index exists

consent_form: Yes

transcription: No

access_copy: No

technical_summary: good

genre: "religious music, singing, shape note music"

places: "Randolph county, Cuthbert"

people:

groups: "Benevolence Misionary Baptist Church, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Mitchell Grove Missionary baptist Church, Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church, St. John A.M.E. Church, Virgil chapel Missionary Baptist"

keywords: "singing, performance Baptist Churches, performances"

Dates

  • February 2, 2003
  • April 14, 2003

Conditions Governing Access

Extent

5 Electronic Records (5 Electronic record(s) and derivatives. 1 audio file (mp3, wav) 00:20:18, 1 tape log (docx, pdf). [Apr] 1 audio file (mp3, wav) 00:14:32, 1 tape log (docx, pdf). 1 artist data sheet (pdf))

Language

From the Collection: English

Other Identifiers

ADS-1012-03, CAS1012-38, CAS1012-42

Tape Index - February 2nd, 2003

004 Interview questionnaire form

053 His knowledge of the shaped-note singing

058 Shaped-note singing in Randolph County

061 How he learned about shaped-note singing and his experiences

074 Singing schools in Randolph County, GA/; conventions

090 Structure change of conventions/singings

098 Singing teachers/His career as a singing teacher

109 Characteristics of a singing teacher

153 Who would attend the singing schools/ages?

165 Decrease in tradition because of lack of youth interest

175 Shape-note singing at Piney Grove Missionary

Baptist Church

185 Willing to teach shaped notes to others

190 Mixed races attending and participating in the conventions/singings

208 Individuals left in Randolph County, GA to continue the tradition

216 Shape-note singing at Piney Grove and how it changed

223 "…Pastor should be interested in these things…"

233 Singing convention today: state and local

246 End of Interview

Tape Index - April 14, 2003

005: Mr. Jones demonstrates the shape notes

016: #30 "My Heart Is Filled With Song" in the Sparkling Song Book

050: Instruction on shape notes

079: #18 "At The Glory Dawn" in the Sparkling Song Book 126: "The right key is important when singing shape notes."

132: #54 "When I Met Jesus" in the Endless Joy Song Book

170: TAPE END

247: Benevolence Missionary Baptist Church, Benevolence (Randolph County), Georgia: "I'll Reach My Home Some Day

301: Round II

305: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "God's Unchanging Hand"

361: Mitchell Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), and Georgia: "I'll Do The Best 1 Can"

417: Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "Climbing Jacob's Ladder

457: Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Carnegie (Randolph County), and Georgia: "Oh Blessed Light"

578: Saint John A.M.E. Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), and Georgia: "Sweeter Someday"

668: Part II Tape II END

Part III TAPE III Beginning

001: Virgil Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "I'll Fly Away"

043: Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "Yes, 1 Love My Savior"

084: Benevolence Missionary Baptist Church, Benevolence (Randolph County), Georgia: Serving My Lord and King"

132: Round III Deacon Johnnie B. Jones leads the congregation in a shaped note singing selections.

194: Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Carnegie (Randolph County), and Georgia: "Heaven, My Eternal Home"

288: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "We ll Understand It Better By and By"

349: Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "IfIBe Lifted Up"

414: Mitchell Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), and Georgia: "Nobody But You Lord"

456: Saint John A.M. E. Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), and Georgia: "Christ Is Coming"

527: Virgil Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "Keep On The Fighting Line"

605: Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Cuthbert (Randolph County), Georgia: "What A Wonderful Feeling"

678: Part III TAPE III END

Part IV TAPE IV Beginning

342: Part IV TAPE IV END

000: Benevolence Missionary Baptist Church, Benevolence (Randolph County), and Georgia: "On My Way Home"

047: Offering for the Sick and Shut-In "Hallelujah"

109: Prayer Over Offering

115: Announcements

267: Financial Report

319: Prayer/Grace/Benediction

Repository Details

Part of the Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Valdosta State University Archives, Odum Library
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta GA 30601 United States
7063728116
229-259-5055 (Fax)