On October 5, we received the following message from NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino:
Shocking and heartbreaking news from our friends at Mississippi Music that Richie Jones Jr was killed on his motorcycle on the way to church yesterday. He turned 48 just last week.
Our thoughts and prayers are extended to his family (his wife and boys), the Flowood store and the entire Mississippi Music family at this difficult time.
While Mike Mullens (who ran our video camera) and I were in Mississippi just last May we stopped at the Flowood store to capture a dozen interviews. Richie, who managed the store and his purchasing director Michael Guillot arranged the space and scheduled each interview and even provided a store tour for us. It was very clear that the staff respected these men and a true partnership and team spirit was felt while at the store. I received an email from Richie thanking me for his birthday greeting and he told me he was working on some new tunes for his group to play at church.
For those of you who support our Oral History program, please know that Richie’s video segment has been posted on his Facebook page and is bringing comfort to his family and friends right now. Its humbling to read the remarks being posted including one that noted “I’ve played this video 8 times just to hear his voice and I think I will keep playing it when I need to hear him.”
