Carvin Jones, the electrifying blues guitarist who made Phoenix his home and the world his stage, died early Sunday, Sept. 20, after a battle with cancer. He was a fixture of the Valley music scene for nearly four decades, captivating audiences with his guitar playing, larger-than-life personality and unmistakable black hat.
Jones, known as the “King of Strings,” had been battling stage 4 cancer but continued performing as recently as July, playing shows in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. He was 60.
His family announced his death in a statement posted to his Facebook page.
“Carvin loved being onstage because he loved being with people,” the family wrote. “He would leave the stage to play in the crowd, turning every show into something shared.”
It was a sentiment Jones himself expressed during an October 2024 interview with the Independent before a Scottsdale show.
“I’m always excited because this is never boring,” he said, moments before he opened his gig with the classic Willie Dixon-penned “I’m Ready.” “I’m always in preparation for some big event coming up. Always.”
Born Corvin Keith Anthony Jones in Lufkin, Texas, Jones discovered the blues through B.B. King records played by his grandfather. He received his first guitar from his grandmother at age 7.
His musical influences grew from the rich East Texas traditions of blues, gospel, R&B and rock and roll.
Jones moved to Phoenix in 1989, beginning a relationship with the Valley that would last the rest of his life.
“I needed a big city,” he told the Independent in 2024.
He found one that embraced him.
Jones became a familiar presence at clubs and music venues throughout Phoenix, the West Valley and East Valley, frequently performing locally between national tours and international engagements.
His travels took him across the United States and to stages in Europe, South America and Australia. Yet his Phoenix performances remained a regular part of his schedule.
His beloved 1962 Fender Stratocaster, given to him by a friend while performing in London nearly 40 years ago, accompanied him through much of his career.
“He was like ‘Carvin, jam this f----,’” Jones recalled with a laugh during the 2024 interview. “I’m like ‘hell yeeah.’”
Jones also devoted considerable time and resources to his community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he established Carvin Cares, using his own money to purchase and deliver groceries to elderly Phoenix residents who could not safely leave their homes. An avid basketball enthusiast, he sponsored and coached youth teams and regularly participated in local basketball leagues.
His final months reflected the determination that had carried him through decades on the road.
Despite his illness, Jones continued performing during the summer, sometimes seated in a chair, still smiling and delivering the guitar solos that had become his trademark.
He performed July 27 in Salem, Oregon, in what may have been his final concert.
“Great show! My wife and I had a wonderful time,” one fan posted to his social media afterward.
Jones was hospitalized soon after returning from the road.
On Aug. 13, he told fans he had been transferred from the hospital to an acute-care nursing center, where he needed rehabilitation and therapy to walk again.
His family expressed gratitude to those who supported him during his final months and said plans for a celebration of his life in Phoenix would be announced.
For Jones, performing was never simply a matter of playing guitar. It was a livelihood, a connection with people, and a life he had spent decades building.
In that October 2024 interview, Jones discussed his plans to take his music to audiences around the world, plus an upcoming Celebrity Theatre performance that he had hinted would be his last major concert in Phoenix.
He had no intention of slowing down.
“I done paid over 35 years of dues. Hell naww it ain’t bittersweet,” he said with a laugh. “No matter what I’m going out on top. For me that’s the most important thing. To go out on my terms on top. Go out and leaving them wanting more.”
Steve Stockmar can be reached at sstockmar@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@inusua.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Steve Stockmar News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment
YourValley.net
Meet Steve Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.
Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.
Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.
Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.
Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.
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