Artist Guide

E.J. Jones: The New Generation

Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles For. . .

November 2025

"Gas Station Love"----E.J. Jones

Most performers would commit a felony to front this rhythm section, but the distinctive element of "Gas Station Love" is its lead guitar riffs that sound like church bells with plenty of space between. Even a sprinkling of strings. I still swear this guitar riff has been done in the past but I can't pinpoint it and it doesn't make any difference. Which brings us to the vocal by the prodigy E.J. Jones. His already startling talent is augmented in every possible way, at times double-tracked, at others echoed in phrases and responses. Everything is done with care and attention to detail. "Gas Station Love" will challenge "Boots On The Ground" for southern soul's song of the year, something that would have been unthinkable a month ago.

Listen to E.J. Jones singing "Gas Station Love" on YouTube.

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daddybnice@southernsoulrnb.com

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October 19, 2025:

Daddy B. Nice's News & Notes

The Newest Southern Soul Sensation!
"Gas Station Love"

Listen to E.J. Jones singing "Gas Station Love" on YouTube.

In a year boasting the emergence of no less than three major southern soul stars---803Fresh, Mike Clark Jr. and Tonio Armani---you'd think the little genre that could---we're talking about southern soul music here---just couldn't stuff anyone else into this year's bag of musical largesse. But hold on... "Gas Station Love," a single recorded by a young man named E.J. Jones in his very first outing, has received over a million YouTube streams in its first two weeks! It's generated an unheard-of number of celebratory comments (5,000-plus!) and from the very day it was posted has received an unprecedented number of laudatory, accompanying YouTube videos: something that's never been seen before. All of the praise cites the song's fusion of vintage sounds (think early-seventies Curtis Mayfield, think Bobby Womack's "Across 110th Street") with today's emphasis on danceable tracks. The rhythm section and chime-riffing guitar are so exquisite your Daddy B. Nice hasn't bothered to listen to the lyrics. The music and overall production are that mesmerizing.

A Pharell-like, teenage-looking prodigy, E.J. Jones reminds me of Marvin, the boyfriend of Bridgett, Ray Donovan's teen-age daughter in the crime series "Ray Donovan". In the Season 2, Episode 8 called "Sunny," Marvin's character (first name is "Marvin," middle name "Gaye") is behind the glass in the recording studio, not quite feeling it, while Bridgett and the sound engineer look on. They take a break and Marvin says to Bridgett, "Why don't you come in with me?" Bridgett joins him, and at his suggestion starts singing the verses and chorus to "Sunny," the Bobby Hebb sixties classic that Marvin has been working on. And Marvin suddenly comes to life, weaving in and out of the melody with dizzying vocal pirouettes. The contrast between Bridgett's unschooled, very "white" voice and Marvin's soulful scatting is pure magic, crossover stuff concocted from dreams, and the engineer begins tapping his feet and grinning. They have a hit.

That's the kind of wizardry that "Gas Station Love" brings to the table in October 2025. It's so new and novel. The southern soul audience isn't interested in hearing the same thing over and over again, as much as the industry hopes that recreating what was once "new and novel" will result in a repeat of the original's success. "Boots On The Ground" wasn't an attempt to cash in on what worked before. "Hell Naw To The Naw Naw" and "Keep On Rollin'" weren't iterations of successful predecessors. They lit up the heavens with surprise and innovation. That's what "Gas Station Love" does. It literally comes out of nowhere and slaps us upside the head: "Hey what's this? Where did it come from? This is good!"

DBN notes: And hey, fans. Here's E.J. Jones' (Chosen One's) first official southern soul gig! From Daddy B. Nice's Concert Calendar.

8 pm, Sunday, October 26, 2025. Acapella's, 4205 Hacks Cross Road #101, Memphis, Tennessee. A Night of Soul Featuring E.J. Jones. E.J. Jones. Doors open 6 pm. 901-254-2567. Tickets.

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daddybnice@southernsoulrnb.com

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--Daddy B. Nice

Tidbits

1. From Daddy B. Nice's Mailbag

October 25, 2025:

RE: The Newest Southern Soul Sensation: “Gas Station Love”

Dear Daddy,

Thanks for what you do. Longtime admirer. I remember that “Sunny” episode of “Ray Donovan”! Which by the way is still streaming on Paramount Plus. It was one of my husbands and my favorites. And when you compare E.J. Jones to Marvin you are so right! They are both so fantastically talented! But you don’t mention that Marvin gets killed later in that same episode.

Lateisha

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Thank you so much, Lateisha. Yeah, that episode of “Ray Donovan” is a fictionalization of the Tupac story. And the guy that kills Marvin is based on Suge Knight. As much as I fondly remember the “Sunny” recording session, I didn’t want to put that on the kid (E.J. Jones).

I appreciate you being such a close reader!

Read The Newest Southern Soul Sensation! "Gas Station Love" on Daddy B. Nice's Corner: News & Notes October 19th.

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Comments, information or questions for Daddy B. Nice?
Write to:
daddybnice@southernsoulrnb.com

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