14 Facts About Tad Jones

Thaddeus Bunol "Tad" Jones was an American music historian and researcher.

Tad Jones developed an interest in the music and history of New Orleans at a young age and conducted important oral history interviews with musicians while still in his teens.

Tad Jones earned a degree in Communications at Loyola University New Orleans.

At Loyola University New Orleans, Tad Jones was the music director of the university's radio station WLDC from 1971 to 1974.

Tad Jones used WLDC's recording facilities in pioneering the taped oral history interviews of numerous New Orleans musicians from every period and style of New Orleans music.

Tad Jones contributed significantly to fostering and researching American rhythm and blues, early rock and roll and jazz.

Tad Jones was one of the "Fabulous Fo'teen," the founding members of Tipitina's, New Orleans's landmark music club established in 1977 and dedicated to Professor Longhair as a place for Longhair to perform until his death in 1980.

Tad Jones was involved in the organization of "Piano Night," a celebration of piano originally presented at Tipitina's on the Monday following the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as a benefit for the radio station.

Tad Jones taught a popular and acclaimed course on the history of New Orleans rhythm and blues at University of New Orleans in the late 1980s.

Tad Jones managed music publishing for The Radiators as General Manager of the band's Fishhead Music.

Tad Jones served as an original program organizer of New Orleans's Satchmo SummerFest, the city's annual conference and celebration of Louis Armstrong's birthday which draws a choice roster of scholars and fans to New Orleans.

Additionally, Tad Jones served as a consultant for multiple documentaries and films.

At his death, Tad Jones was researching and writing a long-anticipated biography of the early life of Louis Armstrong.

Tad Jones was interred in Metairie Cemetery following a jazz funeral organized by New Orleans musicians.