Album Notes

Christy Jones (Howard) is originally from the small town of Clifton, Tennessee. Part Native American (Cherokee) and a child prodigy, Christy was singing and playing piano by age 6. Her father was a Southern Baptist missionary, hence her family moved frequently and as they did, Christy was exposed to many styles of American roots music. She was singing professionally by age 13, and spent most of her early musical career singing Gospel, Country and Bluegrass. Later, after settling in Detroit, Michigan and marrying Butler Twins guitarist Jeff Howard, Christy began incorporating a more urban Blues and Rock sound into her repertoire. PARTY GIRL includes 9 original compositions by Christy & Jeff in the general style of Southern-Rock, Country and Blues-Rock.

CD Reviews

PARTY GIRL is where the lonely country gravel back-road meets the smooth, flowing, black-top pavement. Unpretentious originals -- PARTY GIRL is part country with lots of big city blues fun. Shirley Mae Owens, President, Detroit Country and Classic Blues Society

Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt ... I hear a lot of that in Christy\'s voice, a voice that is deep and has soul. . . this new CD has country rockin\' blues. . . a female Delbert McClinton with a voice Ray Charles would love. Robert Jr. Whitall, Publisher/Editor in Chief, Big City Rhythm and Blues Magazine

The Party Girl CD is a little bit rock n roll and a little bit country. At the same time there is an underlying current of soulful blues. This is no surprise when you consider the background of Christy and her husband Jeff. Christy Jones started life in Tennessee the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister. She began singing gospel at the tender age of six. The family moved to Mississippi and Christy got a dose of the blues from the plantation workers. Next stop was Detroit where she became the thirteen year old lead vocalist in the gospel group Royalaires. Then back to Tennessee and exposure to the Nashville scene and country music. Finally our story works its way to Detroit where she encountered bluesman and future husband Jeff Howard. He was band leader for the Butler Twins Blues Band for a while and is an accomplished guitarist and vocalist. Jeff introduced Christy to the blues community in Detroit.

The twelve tracks on the Party Girl CD include nine Christy and Jeff Howard originals. Christy sings about personal experiences in some of these. A number of Detroit ’s finest musicians contributed their talents. The impressive list is detailed in the liner notes so I will not repeat it here. Christy Howard is the lead vocalist on all songs. An important component to the success of this CD is the variety of instruments featured. So many CDs are basic guitar or harmonica collections. Party Girl takes full advantage of the talents of all the musicians and this gives it a fun to listen to quality. I enjoyed all the tracks although I would count the song Living On The Edge of Sin and the Memphis Minnie tune Me and My Chauffer among my personal favorites. I enjoyed the range of music from slow to upbeat and running the gamut through country, rock n roll and blues. The recording and mastering quality is excellent. I love this CD. Party Girl is a winner. Wolfgang Spider, Action Detroit, v. 18, no. 10, Oct. 2006