The soul/pop singer who won the 2018 Austin Music Award for Best Female Vocals stops in Chattanooga on Friday, Aug. 2, to headline Nightfall in Miller Plaza, 850 Market St.
It's said that when Austin, Texas, singer Tameca Jones opens her mouth and sings that "jaws hit the ground." She's been performing since 2005, when she joined Austin-based band 8 Million Stories as lead singer/songwriter.
The band made a name for itself playing in Austin and got a publishing deal with Riptide Publishing. Jones was part of that band for 2 1/2 years before they called it quits. So, she turned to singing covers to pay the bills.
She spent several years breathing new life into the music of others, making a name for herself as the "Queen of Austin Soul." She opened for Austin stars Gary Clark Jr., Max Frost, Bob Schneider and other touring acts.
She earned praise from Billboard Magazine for her performance at the 2015 Austin Music Awards, where she paid tribute to the late Ian McLagan alongside Steven Van Zandt, Charlie Sexton and Patty Griffin. Billboard stated she "raised the roof," while The Austin Chronicle called her performance "show-stopping."
Jones made her festival debut at the 2015 Austin City Limits Festival. She released her debut EP "Naked" in 2016.
For the last 18 years she has lived in Austin raising two children, who recently graduated from high school. Now she's making the transition from full-time mom to touring artist.
Opening for Jones at 7 p.m. Friday will be local singer Katrina Barclay.