BOBBY JONES GOSPEL
Dr. Bobby Jones has been serving as Black Entertainment Television’s pioneering
host of BOBBY JONES GOSPEL since the cable network’s launch in 1980. Every
Sunday, Dr. Jones, along with the Nashville Super Choir, performs both traditional and
contemporary gospel music and welcomes today’s most talented singers and musicians,
including Kirk Franklin, John P. Kee, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker
and many more
Dr. Jones has revolutionized the gospel music industry. BOBBY JONES GOSPEL is the first and only nationally syndicated black gospel television show. VIDEO GOSPEL, which debuted in 1989 under Dr. Jones’ leadership, was originally the only national television outlet for gospel videos. Dr. Bobby Jones’ numerous accomplishments within the gospel industry are definitely noted. In June 2002, President George Bush, acknowledging Dr. Jones’ significant achievements in gospel music, awarded him the “Leader of Gospel Industry” Award. Dr. Jones was also the recipient of the 2002 “Uplift” Award by Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee on behalf of the United States Congress in August 2002.
Born in Henry County, Tennessee, Dr. Jones was destined for success from a very early age. He excelled academically in school, graduating at age 15 from high school and age 19 from Tennessee State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Dr. Jones continued his studies by pursuing a master's degree at Tennessee State and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University. While pursuing his master's, Dr. Jones taught elementary school in the Missouri and Tennessee educational systems. While an educator, Dr. Jones introduced the pilot for BOBBY JONES GOSPEL to WSMV-TV in Nashville. WSMV-TV picked up the show, and it ran in Nashville from 1976 until it was picked up by BET for national syndication in 1980.
During this period and beyond, Dr. Jones had other television projects in the works. He created, produced and hosted from 1978 to 1984 Bobby Jones World, a magazine-style program that incorporated gospel music with authors, entertainers and leaders. In 1980, he wrote and performed in Make A Joyful Noise, a black gospel opera which aired on PBS. In 1982, Dr. Jones made his television movie debut in NBC's Sisters, Sisters starring Diahann Carroll, Paul Winfield and Irene Cara; and in 1983, he was a guest on country music star Ronnie Milsap's television special, In Celebration.
For his works, Dr. Jones has received great recognition, including an NAACP Image Award winner and the 1980 Gabriel Award and an International Film Festival Award for writing and performing Make A Joyful Noise. In 1982, Dr. Jones and his group, New Life, were nominated for the Grammy recognizing “Best Performance by a Black Contemporary Gospel Group.” He also received the 1984 Gospel Music Association's (GMA) Dove Award for Black Contemporary Album of the Year. Later that year, Dr. Jones received a Grammy for "Best Vocal Duo for a Soul/Gospel Performance" for the single I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today, performed with country music star Barbara Mandrell. In 1990, he received the GMA's Commonwealth Award for Outstanding Contribution to Gospel Music, and in 1994, Dr. Jones was nominated for the CableACE Award.
Dr. Bobby Jones resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
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