Irving Jones
Irving Jones | |
|---|---|
Jones in 1901 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1873 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | March 9, 1932 (aged 58–59) Harlem, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Coon songs |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1877–1932 |
Irving Jones (1873 – March 9, 1932) was an American comedian and songwriter who specialized in a ragtime musical genre known as coon songs during their heyday in the late 19th and early 20th century. He sold close to 50 songs, many of which became enormously popular. A successful comic throughout his career, he has been hailed as a pioneer of ragtime music and both praised and criticized for his ability to take advantage of the popularity of the coon song genre, which often used stereotypical portrayals of African-Americans.