John Jacob Malone, known professionally as J.J. Malone, was an American blues singer and guitarist born on August 20, 1935, in Pete's Corner, Alabama. He started his musical journey singing in a local church and learning to play the harmonica, guitar, and the piano. Malone's career began in California, where he recorded several singles for Ray Shanklin's Galaxy label, achieving local success with tracks like "It's A Shame" (1972) and "Danger Zone" (1972). His talents also led him to work with notable artists such as Little Johnny Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, and Sonny Rhodes. Malone co-owned the club Eli's Mile in Oakland, which became a hub for blues music in the 1970s. He released several albums including Highway 99 (1997), See Me Early in the Morning (1999) and And the Band Played On (2001). Malone passed away on February 20, 2004, in Hawaii.
