* Jun 13, 1892 Barton-Donaldsonville, La
† Dec 8, 1945 Chicago, Il (according to 16 Dec 9)

Born as: Richard Myknee Jones 16

As a brass band musician he played with: Eureka, St. Joseph Brass Band

The composer of "Trouble in Mind," Richard M. Jones' main significance to jazz was as the leader of an interesting series of recording dates. He played alto horn and cornet with the Eureka Brass Band as early as 1902 (this must be a mistaken, while the Eureka was formed in 1920) and worked as a pianist in New Orleans during 1908-1917. After playing with Oscar Celestin (1918), Jones moved to Chicago where he worked for Clarence Williams' publishing company. He recorded as a piano soloist in 1923, accompanied Blanche Calloway and Chippie Hill on record dates (1925-1926), and led his Jazz Wizards on sessions of his own during 1925-1929. Jones' sidemen included Albert Nicholas, Johnny St.Cyr, Ikey Robinson, Roy Palmer, Omer Simeon, and some lesser-known musicians. Richard M. Jones stayed in Chicago for the rest of his life, leading further sessions during 1935-1936 and 1944, and working as a talent scout for Mercury in the 1940s. All of his records as a leader have been reissued on two Classic CDs. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.i1

Jones grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jones suffered from a stiff leg and walked with a limp; fellow musicians gave him the nickname "Richard My Knee Jones" as a pun on his middle name. In his youth he played alto horn in brass bands.i2

Primarily he played as a solo pianist in the higher class Basin Street bordellos before he was 20 years old. At 13 he played the alto horn in a brass band (was this at that time with the Eureka Brass band?). Joe "King" Oliver worked regular in his own groups, which played in in the district between 1910-1912 at Abadie's, the Poodle Dog and Fewclothes. In 1919 he joined the Clarence Williams Publishing Co. in an administrative capacity. He composed like Trouble in Mind, Riverside blues and Jazzin' Babies blues.16

Sources (internet):
i1 http://www.answers.com/topic/richard-m-jones
i2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_M._Jones

Sources (brassband history):
16 New Orleans Jazz, family album by Al Rose and Edmond Souchon