About Skip

Wisconsin Folksinger Skip Jones (64) is a Grandfather… Storyteller… Educator...  He and his family live on the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohicans reservation in Northeast Wisconsin near Bowler. In his own words, "My family is a his, hers, ours and a few kids in need, who drifted by and stayed kind of family.” The father to 8+... Grandfather to 15+..., Skip believes we have a responsibility to work to create a world where it is easier to be good...  A world that is respectful and meaningful... A world at peace with justice for all... A world we can proudly leave for the 7th Generation. While not an easy task, it is one he feels we owe to life... 

Skip spent 13 years in the US Navy during the Vietnam era.  After attending college at University of Maine Portland Gorham, he moved to an 80 acre parcel of land in NE Wisconsin to raise his family and live a simpler more artistic and musically oriented life.  Together Skip and visual artist Judy built their home from trees harvested on site… raised a large garden, heated with wood and concentrated on creative undertakings including art, music and teaching.  While attending UW Green Bay he became reacquainted the American folk music scene and in 1978 started performing professionally… 

Skip believes there’s power of music...    The songs and stories he shares are about real people:  their lives, work, dreams and struggles.  They reflect his personal beliefs in family, the strength of the human spirit and our shared humanity.  They come from the heart and belong to all of us. 

His music is warm, personal and family friendly.  Touching hearts and helping people feel good about themselves, he bridges generations with a style that makes folks want to participate!  He plays old songs, with a freshness that has young folks singing along.  The elders say, “He reminds me of Burle Ives”.  Gentle humor and wild stories embroider his performances with love and laughter.  

He has worked with schools and community programs across the upper Midwest including; The UP Teen Leadership Cooperative, Marquette Alger School District Marquette MI, Wisconsin Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents, Menominee Nation School, Neopit, WI , Young Artist Workshops (Accessible art for children with disabilities)  St. Norbert’s College, De Pere, WI,  Highlander Research Center for Social Change, New Marquette TN,  Student Assistance Programs, Racine, WI,  Wisconsin Center for Developmentally Disabled, Madison, WI.   

For over twenty years, Skip has worked to bring people together around music.  He has organized and directed festivals & concert series, introduced house concerts to the Midwest & beyond, provided high quality sound for folk festivals & cultural events, and produced & recorded albums for local, regional and national artists. He's down-home, real and adds to any celebration!