Irving Jones

Irving Jones
Jones in 1901
Background information
Born1873 (1873)
New York City, U.S.
DiedMarch 9, 1932(1932-03-09) (aged 58–59)
Harlem, New York City, U.S.
GenresCoon songs
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • songwriter
Years active1877–1932

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.