Mr. Floyd Valentine Jones Sr.

Floyd Valentine Jones was born on February 14, 1929 to parents Lucille McGowan and Samuel Jones, in Memphis, Tennessee. Floyd was the second oldest of ten children in the Jones family. Floyd attended St. Augustine Catholic School from grades 1-8, then Booker T. Washington High School, in Memphis. His love for music started around age seven. The family had a piano in their home that his father would play each day. This inspired Floyd to start playing the piano. Floyd then joined his grade school band to continue to learn the piano. His love for the trumpet started in high school at age 13, when he noticed another child playing the instrument. He loved the sound of the trumpet, and was eager to learn to play. His father bought him an old trumpet and he began to study the horn. He learned quickly and became part of the Booker T. Washington High School Band. After high school, he was awarded a scholarship to study music at Tennessee State University. He joined the Tennessee State Jazz Orchestra in 1946 as a trumpet player. He worked hard to excel at his instrument and it paid off. Floyd began "jamming" with local bands some evenings and weekends on the famous "Beale Street" in Memphis. The bands included Jessie Hatcher's band, Buddy Johnson's band and the early B.B. King Band. He also met some very inspirational Jazz artists, including W.C. Handy and Louis Armstrong. Floyd's college career was cut short, when his father Samuel died. Floyd left Tennessee State after one year, to work full time and assist his mother to support his eight siblings that still remained at home. Floyd married Melba Freeman, his childhood sweetheart in 1949. They moved to Gary Indiana with their young family a few years later. While living in Gary, Floyd continued to work during the day and perform with local bands some evenings and weekends. He also began to compose music, lyrics and poetry. Floyd and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1957. He got his big break in the early 1960's when he joined the Lionel Hampton Band. He traveled with Hampton's band as one of his trumpet players for over a year. While playing with Lionel Hampton, he was noticed and recruited by the Ray Charles Band leader. He joined the band in the early 1960's and traveled the world. While performing with these two great bands, Floyd traveled to 55 countries on 6 continents. He met musicians and people of all races and cultures. He often spoke to his children of his love and appreciation for traveling and making new friends. He always felt that music was a universal language that provided a bond between all musicians, no matter what race or culture. Floyd left the Ray Charles Band in the late 1960's, after several years on the road. He returned to Detroit and began his career as a trumpet player for the Motown Band. He was also recruited for the position of Band Director at the Elmwood Casino in Canada, where he worked evenings for many years. In the early 1980's he joined the City of Detroit Police Department and worked as a probation officer and union representative. He also was very involved with the musician's union over the years. He retired from the City of Detroit Police department in 1994. Floyd completed a lifelong dream in 2005 by graduating from Wayne State University School of Music, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Floyd was a member of the St. Cecilia Church for many years. He was a usher at one time and a member of the church choir for years. He loved to sing and interact in fellowship with choir members. He was a positive, thoughtful, loving man, and wonderful father. He loved to smile and tell stories. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Mr. Floyd Valentine Jones Sr.

February 14, 1929 - May 22, 2013