Name: Mally Jones Group or Ministry: The
King’s Country Men
Age: Born 1928 Hometown:
Connellsville, PA(childhood) to Salem, NJ(adult)
Musical Talent: bass vocals and upright bass Today’s Date: 11/5/17
1. At what age did you first
start signing/playing?
“At around 3 years of age.
Mom played piano and I would sing along—like ‘O where, O where
has my little dog gone.’
2. At what age did you
realize you had a special gift for music?
“Once when I was about age
6, I jumped up on the stage at a YMCA presentation even though I
wasn’t supposed to be performing at all at this event. Once I
got up there I froze and was quite stage struck. I just stood
there until Mom came up and rescued me.”
3. How and when did you get
involved in with the The King’s County Men? Who else was in the
group?
“Around 1962 I became
curious about a revival movement that had broken out in Salem
with the coming of Chuck Murray as the new Pastor of the
Presbyterian Church in our town. I soon joined one of the many
small prayer and fellowship groups for men that were forming. I
eventually gave my heart to Christ. I began singing with and
then playing bass for guitarist and singer John Bobbitt. A few
years later John and I were invited to perform at a Community
Church in Elmer, NJ. Also playing that night were Warren Purdy
who sang baritone and played lead guitar and his brother, Andy,
who sang tenor and played banjo. They had come down to Elmer
from Philadelphia. After the main program the four of us got
together behind the church and tried out a few songs. Something
clicked and that was the night that “The King’s Country Men”
began. That was 1968.”
4. To the best of your
knowledge. . .
a. When did the group start?
“1968.”
b. When did the ministry
conclude, if it has?
“John and I, along with
Warren and Andy and a few others, played together until at least
1997.”
c. Were any recordings
released while you were involved:
|
TITLES |
DATE RELEASED |
Label/Independent |
# of copies |
|
Someone Up in
Heaven (LP) |
1971 |
Independent |
500 |
|
The Sweetest Songs
We Know (LP) |
1973 |
Independent |
500 |
|
The King’s Country
Men (LP) |
1975 |
Independent |
500 |
|
The King’s Country
Men-II (LP) |
1977 |
Independent |
500 |
d. Approximately how often did the group perform while you were
involved? Per week, month, and/or year?
“We practiced weekly for
just about 30 years!”
e. Approximately how many
total performances did you do with the group?
“We averaged about 4
appearances per month. We never charged the churches, just took
an offering.”
(That’s an approximate total
of about 1,500 performances!)
f. What are some locations at
which you performed regularly?
What about out of town or out of state performances?
“Many local churches and
also bluegrass events in the tri-state area.” (NJ, PA, and DE)
g. What were some of your
favorite songs? Did the group do any original songs?
“O, I loved all those songs.
I didn’t really have a favorite. The Purdys did write a few,
like Andy’s “Please Mister.”
