Biography
The Voice That
Hypnotized a
Generation
Linda Jones was born on December 14, 1944, in Newark, New Jersey — a city she would forever be tied to. Her journey into music began at the tender age of six, singing with her family’s gospel group, The Jones Singers, instilling a lifelong gospel fire that would define her soul sound.
Discovered at a local club by songwriter Jerry Harris, she was introduced to producer George Kerr, who recognized her exceptional gift. After early singles on Atco and Blue Cat Records, Kerr brought her to Warner Bros.’ R&B subsidiary Loma Records in 1967 — where lightning struck.
Her debut Loma single, the deeply soulful ballad “Hypnotized,” rocketed to #4 on the Billboard R&B chart and #21 on the Hot 100. Her style — raw, urgent, gospel-drenched — was utterly her own.
Linda passed on March 14, 1972, at just 27 years old. Her music, however, lives on forever.
