Joe Jones Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Joe Jones (1934 – 1993) was an American avant-garde musician associated with Fluxus, best known for his creation of rhythmic musical machines. He grew up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and received a classical music education at the Hartnett Music School in New York City. Read the full biography

Joe Jones (1934 – 1993) was an American avant-garde musician associated with Fluxus, best known for his creation of rhythmic musical machines. He grew up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and received a classical music education at the Hartnett Music School in New York City. In the late 1950s he began a brief career as a jazz drummer. In 1960 Jones began studying avant-garde experimental composition first briefly with John Cage and then Earle Brown. Through these associations he formed an artistic alliance with Dick Higgins, Alison Knowles and La Monte Young. Jones began experimenting with mechanical instruments in 1962, creating such items as musical boats, solar musical umbrellas, and a pedal vehicle that towed handmade instruments on wheels called "The Longest Pull Toy in the World." The following year his works were exhibited at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York City. Starting in 1963 Jones participated in the Fluxus art movement, taking part in a series of Fluxus performance art activities with his automata-like musical machines, made from ready-made instruments. In 1969 Jones opened his Tone Deaf Music Store (aka Joe Jones Music Store and/or JJ Music Store) at 18 N. Moore Street in New York City where he also held small music installation performances alone and with musicians such as Yoko Ono and John Lennon, among others.