Biography
Diana Jones (born 1965) is an American singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. Jones has won a number of songwriting competitions including the venerable "New Folk" competition at the 2006 Kerrville Folk Festival. Her song "Pony" was nominated as "Song of the Year" by the North American Folk Alliance, and Jones herself was nominated as "Emerging Artist of the Year" for 2006. Jones' career gained wider critical acclaim that same year with the release of her album, My Remembrance of You.
Jones' music is informed by the themes that have run through her life…love, loss, and redemption…bringing to mind both Emily Dickinson & Loretta Lynn in the same breath. From the mournful lament of a dance hall girl, to the stomping melodic rant of a young woman's burial instructions, each of Diana's original songs from her CD, My Remembrance of You, draws life from the rich cross currents of old timey, country blues and mountain music.
Adopted as an infant and raised in New York, Diana left home at the age of 15 in search of her roots. Unlike most of her friends, Diana was attracted to the music of Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, as well as contemporary artists Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. It wasn't until she was reunited with her birth family and the music of the Eastern Tennessee hills some years later, that she discovered why that music had always moved her.
After establishing a solid folk career in the late 90s in the fertile Austin music scene, Diana returned to the northeast seeking time to heal from the loss of her beloved grandfather, Robert Lee Maranville, who as a young man performed with Chet Atkins among others. It was during this time of healing and isolation, that Diana started writing from a deeper place, and after some serious wood shedding, she emerged with some of the most honest songs of her life.
"When Diana Jones went in search of her birth family, she not only found them in East Tennessee, she also found her voice - as a writer and a singer. There's an authenticity to her stories and her singing that is truly special." –John Platt, WFUV
My Remembrance of You, recorded at Signature Sounds Studio with Mark Thayer, contains 11 of songs from that retreat. The record also includes stellar musicians like Ferron on harmony vocals, Jay Ungar on fiddle and Duke Levine on mandolin and various guitars. My Remembrance was listed on several critics’ Top CD’s of 2006, including the #1 Country record for the year by the Chicago Tribune!
"Jones is on the verge of a critical breakthrough. Increasingly compared to the likes of Iris DeMent and Gillian Welch, Jones just might be the best American songwriter most people have never heard of." – Chicago Tribune
With Jones busy touring and promoting, My Remembrance of You continues to gain new listeners and rave reviews. She has shared the stage with Martina McBride, Del McCoury Band, Guy Clark, Odetta, Old Crow Medicine Show, and John Gorka among others. Summer of 2007 Diana played several top music festivals, including Philly, Newport, American and Rhythm & Roots. My Remembrance was released in Europe in May, while Diana followed with 3 tours including performances at Cambridge Folk Festival, Galway Arts Festival and a supporting tour for legend Richard Thompson at some of Europe’s top venues. Diana has won several songwriting awards including the 2006 Kerrville New Folk Contest.
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