Linda Jones joined the 27 club on March 14, 1972. The cause of death is recorded as: Complications from diabetes
Linda Jones, born on December 14, 1944, was an American soul singer who left an indelible mark on the music industry with her powerful gospel-influenced style. Jones, who tragically passed away on March 14, 1972, at just 27 years old, is best known for her 1967 top 10 R&B hit single, "Hypnotized," which reached No. 4 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 21 on the Hot 100.
Jones' musical journey began in Newark, New Jersey, where she started singing in her family's gospel group, the Jones Singers, at the tender age of six. Her first recording under the name Linda Lane was "Lonely Teardrops" on Cub Records in 1963. She was later discovered performing at a local club by songwriter Jerry Harris and introduced to producer George Kerr. Unsuccessful singles on Atco Records in 1964 and Blue Cat Records the following year led Kerr to take her to Warner Bros. Records' R&B subsidiary, Loma Records, in 1967.
At Loma Records, Jones found success with "Hypnotized," which proved to be the label's best-selling record and was followed by two further hits, including "What've I Done (To Make You Mad)" (No. 8 R&B, No. 61 pop), and an album. After Loma closed in late 1968, Jones had a final single on the main Warner label before joining Neptune Records, run by Philadelphia record producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Two singles saw some R&B success before she signed for All Platinum's subsidiary, Turbo Records, in New Jersey, in 1971. A powerful revamped version of the former Jerry Butler and The Impressions hit, "For Your Precious Love," reached both the R&B (No. 15) and pop (No. 74) charts in 1972 and saw her career take off again.
Jones' legacy continued to grow posthumously. All Platinum put out three albums of previously issued and unreleased material after her death, and in 2008, her daughter Terry Jones, along with Helen Bruner, produced an album entitled "Soul Talkin," featuring her mother's vocals. One of the tracks, "Baby I Know," was nominated for a Grammy Award at the 51st Awards Ceremony in 2008. In more recent years, artifacts of Jones were added to The Grammy Museum in Newark, New Jersey's New Jersey Legends Exhibit, which includes other musical greats like Frank Sinatra and Dionne Warwick. Additionally, on December 14, 2021, the City of Newark honored Jones by renaming Sherman Avenue, the street she lived on, to Linda Jones Way. Her daughter Terry Jones and singer Helen Burner were in attendance for the honor, along with producer George Kerr and recording artists Freddie Jackson, Stuart Bascombe of Black Ivory, and Dolores Milligan of the band Skyy.
In conclusion, Linda Jones was a soul singer who left an indelible mark on the music industry with her powerful gospel-influenced style. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she began singing at a young age and went on to find success with hits like "Hypnotized" and "For Your Precious Love." Her legacy continued to grow posthumously with the release of her music and the recognition of her contributions to the musical landscape of New Jersey. Jones' tragic passing at just 27 years old only serves to underscore the immense talent she possessed and the impact she had on soul music.