J.J. Malone


John Jacob Malone was an American West Coast blues, electric blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and keyboardist. His best known recordings were Its a Shame and Danger Zone. Malone was a member of The Rhythm Rockers, and variously worked with musicians such as Troyce Key, Jill Baxter, Al Green, Joe Simon, Etta James, Scott McKenzie and Frankie Lee.

Malone was born in Petes Corner, Alabama, United States. He sang in his local church, and learned to play the harmonica, guitar and piano. After moving to California, he found more regular employment in the music industry, and had localized hit singles with Its a Shame, One Step Away, and Danger Zone. Malone met the record producer, Ray Shanklin, and was subsequently employed as a record company executive at Fantasy Records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At Galaxy, Malone worked alongside Little Johnny Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, Sonny Rhodes and Creedence Clearwater Revival. With the singer and guitarist Troyce Key, he bought Elis Mile High Club in north Oakland, California. In the 1970s, Elis Mile High acquired a reputation for supporting West Coast blues artists. In 1980s, the duo appeared at the San Francisco Blues Festival.

Source: Wikipedia


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