James R. Jones:
CLASS OF 1971
Booker T. Washington High SchoolClass of 1971
Tulsa, OK
James R.'s Story
There are so many people, including classmates, who know me better as 'Honey B' or 'Baky'.
After finishing BTW in1971, some of us attended Langston University on the 'Buddy Plan' We got to pick our roommates. Mitchell "Doonie" Edwards and I signed together as well as Malvin 'Dino' Vice and Charlie 'Last Name' Wilson.
I graduated from Langston in 1976 with a BA in Music Education. From 1976 to 1978 I was with Tulsa City-County Library system. Then in the summer of 1978...a dream came true...my sisters and I, known as the musical group, The Honey-B's, received on offer and contracts to go on tour to Canada! After being in Canada for several months we received contracts to tour in Japan! We couldn't believe it. Things we had talked and dreamt about for years were happening for us. Eventually, the music business and another offer took us to Hollywood were I hooked back up with my childhood buddies and good friends who were all in the music industry as well. Troy Hanson, 'Dino' Vice, and Charlie Wilson. In addition to my music buddies in Los Angeles at that time, another classmate was also there, Wally McCleod Jr! Wally was in his residency at MLK Jr. hospital at the time and use to come out to see us perform at different engagements.
After the death of my father in 1988, I decided to move my family back to Tulsa. Troy had moved back to Tulsa back this time also. I started a new band called '4U' and invited Troy to play trumpet and keyboards with me. Troy has gone on to do other things, but I still have '4U' and have been very successful on the local level as well as opening for nationally recording act such as Denise LaSalle, Boney Ja...Expand for more
mes, The Time, Dazz Band, Brick Ginuwine, Regina Belle and others. As I write this, I am preparing for a show with the SOS Band on February 16, 2008.
I might point out that the new lead singer of my band is the daughter of one of our classmates, the late Linda Richardson-Jones! Her daughter, Monieka is an extemely gifted vocalist who won the local Channel 6 talent competition, "Gimme The Mike"!
I decided to utilize my degree in Music Ed. and am now in my 15th year with Tulsa Public Schools. I began as a music teacher. In 1997, I completed my Master's Degree in Education/Counseling. I have since served as a Counselor, Dean and Assistant Principal. I've come across several members of our class who work in the field education including Joe Sheets, Gayla Bates-Littlejohn, Carolyn Owens-Ingram. Curtis West was on staff as the PE teacher when I was Assistant Principal at one of the Middle Schools.
I have 23 year old twins, James lll, a graduate of Tuskegee University who lives and works in Texas with his wife who is also a Tuskegee graduate and Jacquelyn, a graduate of Howard University, who lives and works in Atlanta.
I big surprise to me has been how well our classmates look and how unified the class of 1971 has been. I've been fortunate to have served as the treasuer for class/reunions for the past 12 years and couldn't find a better group of people to work with. We are a special class. I always look forward to seeing class members at the reunions, meetings and other functions. I won't hesitate to 'holla' at you at the store either.
I continually count my Blessings and give Thanks to out Almighty God everyday with out fail.
Baky
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