Fernando Jones, a self-taught musician, is one of the most complete Bluesmen of his generation in the world. From books to films, from sound recordings to theatre productions, his contributions to the Blues have been paramount. However, he began performing, playing the guitar, and writing songs when he was four years old. Jones has been called a Renaissance man. Jones has been recognized and celebrated by his peers and the press as being on the "cutting edge" of the Blues. This young man added new blood and a new perspective to the legacy of the Blues and its culture. As a composer, he has taken great pride in performing his original works publicly to help insure the evolutionary development of this musical movement. He is always lobbying for the proper recognition of this indigenous African-American art form and its people. While refuting the many negative stereotypes that haunt this music, Jones is on a mission to show people the joy and beauty through academic implementations, lectures, and concert performances throughout the world. As a result, Jones' hands were photographed by National Geographic Magazine. His book, I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot, has been used as a resource by the likes of Newsweek, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, and Living Blues Magazine. TV and radio stations suc0h as ABC, the BBC, CBS, CLTV, NBC, WTTW, and WGN have celebrated him for his playing style and unique perspective on the status of Black music in America also. As a playwright and actor, Jones received critical acclaim from the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times, UIC Alumni Magazine, and received Jefferson and Black Theatre Alliance Award nominations. Fernando has been asked by Columbia College to teach and pilot their Blues Ensemble course. Sessions will begin fall 2005. Fernando Jones is a graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He's also a proud member of the National Alliance of Black School Educators and the Chicago Area affiliate - CAABSE; Real Men Cook; the American Federation of Musicians (Local 10-208); Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) as a songwriter & publisher; the Chicago Blues Festival Planning Committee, and founder of Blues Kids of America with endorsements from: Fender Musical Instruments; Dean Markley Strings & Electronics; Jim Dunlop Guitar Picks & Accessories; Guitar Center. Website http://WWW.FERNANDOJONES.COM Discography Whodoyuvoodu (Mysoundworx) Stranded (Mysoundworx / Dude Records) I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot (Mysoundworx)