The 5 Jones Boys

The 5 Jones Boys, originally called the Dixie Cotton Pickers from Carbondale, Illinois came to Los Angeles in the mid 1930s. Lead tenor Jimmy Springs was joined by William Hartley, Herman Wood, Louis Wood, and Charles Hopkins. They hooked up with Gene Autry and were on his National Barn Dance radio show and some of his tours. In a January 1936 newspaper article, they were characterized as "real rivals (not imitators) of the Mills Brothers." Later that year, they toured with Duke Ellington (as they did in 1937, after a stint at Los Angeles' Cotton Club). There's a photo of the 5 Jones Boys and Ellington in the December 31, 1936 California Eagle. It names the members as Wm. Bartley, Helmer Woods, Louis Woods, Charley Hopkins, and Jimmy Spring.

The 5 Jones Boys were occasionally part of a syndicated radio program called "The Laff Parade", hosted by Ken Niles. One reviewer of a 1934 performance thought that they were actually the Mills Brothers. They made several appearances from 1934 through 1937.

Some Los Angeles appearances: In late June 1936, they opened at the Famous Door, replacing Louis Prima. In December, they were with Duke Ellington, Ivie Anderson, and the 5 Hot Shots at the Paramount Theater. February 1937 found them at Frank Sebastian's Cotton Club (the blurb in the February 26, 1937 California Eagle said that they came from the "coal mines of Illinois"). By May, they'd been added to the cast of "Shuffle Along" at the Lincoln Theater.

They were in several films (those from 1936 were all released within three days of each other) and had a couple of records on Variety. In Ali Baba Comes To Town (an uncredited performance) they're part of a black cast that included the Plantation Boys, Richard Davis, David Patillo, guitarist Oscar Moore, Ormonde Wilson (a member of the Plantation Boys, whom we'll meet later on), and two future Delta Rhythm Boys: Clifford Holland, and Carl Jones. The chorus was directed by Leon René and Earl Dancer.