JACK Jones has come full circle.
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After more than a decade living in the US, the singer-songwriter and guitarist has returned to his musical roots in Australia.
The lead vocalist-guitarist in 1990s Australian band Southern Sons will play the group's complete self-titled debut album in his new tour.
Jones said it would be the first time since the 1990s he had performed the full set on stage.
He said he had a habit of not revisiting his work and had only listened to it again recently for the tour.
“I’m proud of everything I’ve done, but Southern Sons is where it all started for me, so I am very excited about this show," he said.
"I am very fond of these songs; [guitarist] Phil Buckle is a masterful songwriter, and the band was a great time in my life.”
Jones was still a teenager when he found fame in Southern Sons.
The group became one of the most loved Australian bands of the 1990s, with hits such as Heart In Danger, Hold Me In Your Arms, You Were There, Always And Ever, Waiting For That Train and Lead Me To Water.
Jones relocated to the US after three albums with Southern Sons: 1990s self-titled set, 1992’s Nothing But The Truth and 1996’s Zone.
The ARIA-nominated Southern Sons album went double platinum, hit number five on the ARIA charts, and featured four singles – Heart In Danger, Always And Ever, Hold Me In Your Arms and The World Is Mine.
OTHER GIGS ON OUR PATCH:
In the US Jones recorded an album with INXS’s Garry Gary Beers (2000’s Mudhead) and released his solo album, The Evolution of Irwin Thomas, in 2002. He returned to the Top 10 in 2017 with California Dreaming, a collaboration with Rick Price.
"Ironically the minute I left Australia all of this work started to pop up," Jones said.
"I did 16 trips back (to Australia) in my first 18 months of living in New York."
The son of an American Broadway performer and an Australian folk singer and dancer, Jones spent his early years in the US.
His father died when Jones was only six months.
"There was always music around me; my mum has got quite a beautiful voice," he said.
"My mum used to take me to bluegrass bars when I was two, I guess she was only 27.
"I did get a lot of exposure to artistic people."
As an in-demand guitarist, Jones has played with John Farnham, Dweezil Zappa, Tina Arena and Richard Marx.
THE LOWDOWN:
WHAT: Jack Jones Performing the Complete Southern Sons Debut Album
WHEN: Brighter Days Festival, Bright, March 10; SS&A Club Albury, March 22; and Mulwala Ski Club, April 20.
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