Bradley Forrest “Buster B.” Jones (1959-2009)
JONES, WILLHOUR, HODGES, LEE, WHITTAKER, THOMAS, MCGLYNN, SANCHEZ, ANDERSON
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 3/11/2009 at 19:31:47
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
Bradley Forrest “Buster B.” Jones, 49, of Junction City, Ore., and formerly of Ames, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, in Junction City. His body has been cremated and a memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Church of the Sacred Heart in Boone, with the Rev. Steve Brodersen officiating. Following the service, a time of fellowship and lunch will be held in the Sacred Heart Parish Center.
Brad was born Aug. 24, 1959, in Ames, the son of Clarence “Buster” and Allene (Willhour) Jones. He was born with a guitar in his hands, and he learned to play at a very young age, his musical talent coming from his parents and older brother, Ron. He had great teachers, and with three sisters and three brothers, he had a large audience. Graduating from Ames High School in 1978, he then served with the U.S. Air Force. Afterwards, with his guitars in the car, he traveled to the East Coast, eventually ending up in Roanoke, Va. With the great talent that he was born with, it was his destiny to become a performer traveling all over the world. His stage name was Buster B. Jones, and he performed throughout the United States and Canada and overseas in France, Germany, England, Australia, Japan, Italy, Ireland and more. Buster B. was considered one of the Top 10 Fingerpickers in the United States.
He teamed up with his friend, Thom Bresh, who is the son of legendary Merle Travis, and the two were ideally suited to perform together. The dynamic duo always left the crowds wanting more. Brad (Buster B.) and Thom were both bestowed the title of Wine Lords by the World Wine Council in Bordeaux, France. They are well known to their fans there, and Brad (Buster B.) was dubbed “Le Machine Gun” by his fans.
In 1988, he won Guitar Player Magazine’s International Guitar Contest, winning him his first Gold Record. In 1992, he won the National Finger Style contest in Winfield, Kan. He blew the fans away with his unique Finger Picking Style. Brad (Buster B.) produced 10 teaching videos for Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop that are considered essential for anyone interested in learning his great style. His accomplishments are many, but true happiness came to him by making people sit back, relax and just enjoy the music.
He is survived by his beloved companion, Nancy Writer, of Junction City, Ore.; two daughters, Jennifer Hodges and Jessica Lee, both of Roanoke, Va.; two granddaughters, Marisa Hodges and Kiley Whittaker, of Roanoke, Va.; and his former wife and very good friend, Cindy Jones Thomas. Also surviving are three brothers, Ron (Becky) Jones, of Anamosa, Roger (Janel) Jones, of Ankeny, and Gary (Diann) Jones, of Stanberry, Mo.; three sisters, Colleen Jones (Lyle) McGlynn, of Boone, Darlene Jones (Jose) Sanchez, of Dallas, Texas, and Kay Jones (Curtis) Anderson, of Ames; 12 nephews; and seven nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be in Nashville, Tenn., during the Chet Atkins Appreciation Festival in July 2009, where Brad had become a yearly performer.
Schroeder Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall streets in Boone is handling local arrangements. Online condolences and a guestbook are available at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
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