Quick Facts
Biography
William Harry Jones (November 20, 1949 – February 7, 1995) was an American guitarist and singer best known as a founding member of the Outlaws.
Jones was a major contributor to the discography and commercial success of the Outlaws. Hughie Thomasson invited him to join the Outlaws after seeing him perform.
Jones grew up in Tampa, FL but lived for a long time in Boulder Colorado. While in high school he was a track star holding the record in the 440-yard dash.
A very talented musician he played drums~keyboards/piano. He was offered a scholarship to Juilliard School of Music but turned it down electing to attend the University of South Florida. He was a math major and graduated near the top of his class. He taught and tutored math for a while and contemplated teaching full time, but music was Jones's calling.
He recorded one album with a band called H.Y. Sledge before joining Outlaws. He was initially brought on as a keyboardist but soon switched to lead guitar helping crystallize the trademark Outlaws sound.
After major success throughout the '70s, Jones parted ways with the band in 1981 after the album Ghost Riders.
In February 1995, Jones died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He is buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Tampa, Florida.