Born David Howard Jones, in Tampa Florida, David began playing the trumpet at the age of 11, developed an interest in jazz during high school going on to major in music at Florida State University for 2 years. He left college in 1975 to play music full time, working in night clubs and 'paying his dues' with jazz bands in Florida and Georgia until settling in Orlando in 1981. Since that time he has worked as staff musician for Busch Gardens, Circus World, Sea World, Church St. Station, the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. (on the Mississippi Queen), and Walt Disney World, where he is currently the featured cornetist with The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra.

 

He performed at the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival for the first time in 1989 and, since then, has played at more than 50 jazz festivals coast to coast and around the world. Traveled with Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Jazz Band to England, Wales, Scotland and Denmark, and with the widely acclaimed Black Dog Jazz Band to Canada, Holland, Germany and Belgium. In 1992 went on concert tour of mainland China with The Black Dogs, giving performances in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Xian, Guilin and the Great Wall.

 

Better known to the jazz community as Davy Jones, he has built his reputation on his knowledge of jazz styles of the 20's and 30's and is renowned for his decisive lead playing and hot jazz choruses. He appears at major jazz festivals across the coutnry with the Black Dogs and with Allan Vaché and the New Delta Steamer Jazz Band.