Born into a family of sharecroppers in Henry, Tennessee, Dr. Bobby Jones faced an almost certain future of poverty and despair. His adolescence was traumatic, the effects of alcohol on his parents led them to fight violently every week, and his father relentlessly heaped verbal abuse on his young son. But his grandmother, affectionately known as Mammy Lydia, had a strong influence on his developing years. She showered her grandson with love, praise, and guidance. An extremely bright and inquisitive child who had a love for singing spirituals and leading the choir, he instinctively knew this platform would reach and inspire people. Dr. Jones also felt that knowledge and education were vital to success, which led him to Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelors degree in elementary education at the age of nineteen. Never straying too far from his gospel roots, he formed the New Life Singers, a successful alliance that yielded a Grammy, one of many awards he would receive in his illustrious career.

Dr. Bobby Jones has played an instrumental role in helping many gospel entertainers launch their careers. Well respected and admired, he is a rarity in a business that can be competitive and intimidating. He feels blessed to call many of gospel's most beloved talents his friends...