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18 Facts About Busta Jones

1.

Busta Jones is known for his bass work both live and in the studio with Albert King, Talking Heads, Gang of Four, Chris Spedding as well as many others during a decade spanning career that lasted from the late 1960s until his death in 1995.

2.

Rather Busta Jones was much more into the idea of "crossover music," which is what drove him to work with white artists like Lee Baker in the band Moloch.

3.

Fraser would leave the band following a car accident following a Sharks gig; Busta Jones was recruited to replace him.

4.

Busta Jones recorded bass for Shark's sophomore album Jab It In Yore Eye.

5.

Bombers would go on to release their first self titled album, Bombers, in 1978, with Busta Jones providing both bass and vocals to the album's songs.

6.

In 1979 and 1980, Busta Jones would begin more directly working with members of the band Talking Heads.

7.

Alongside all of these collaborations, Busta Jones would begin giving bass lessons to Tina Weymouth.

8.

Busta Jones, having already worked directly with all band members individually at one point or another, was asked to join as a second bassist as well as tasked with the job of finding other musicians to be fill out the lineup.

9.

Busta Jones would be responsible for recruiting both back up singer Dolete McDonald and percussionist Steve Scales for the tour.

10.

McDonald and Busta Jones had known and worked with each other previously, with McDonald having performed backing vocals for Busta Jones' album.

11.

Luckily, Busta Jones called Scales just in time, and he was onboard for the project.

12.

Busta Jones would continue to tour with Talking Heads until February 28,1981, when the tour ended in Tokyo Japan.

13.

Busta Jones was replaced by New York experimental composer percussionist David Van Tieghem.

14.

Busta Jones agreed, and thus began a marathon rehearsal session to get Busta Jones settled into the band.

15.

The Busta Jones gigs were the best gigs we did, I think.

16.

Busta Jones co-wrote the song "Chasing the Night" off the Too Tough to Die record, with Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone.

17.

Busta Jones would leave New York City to return home to Memphis by the end of 1983.

18.

Busta Jones died of heart failure on December 6,1995, in Memphis, Tennessee.