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Ron I. Jones 2305 Englewood Ave. Durham, NC 27705

Bio Sketch

Ron Jones likes to tell people that he grew up on a North Carolina dairy farm in a whole family of storytellers. Being a part of a large family of six children, parents, grandmothers, and extended family members of aunts, uncles, and many cousins- there was always time for a story and a willing storyteller nearby. Among his earliest memories, Ron says, are gatherings on the front porch or in the yard under sprawling oaks listening to stories. Even when wandering around the dairy Ron says he might hear an impromptu story from an idle farmhand sitting on the fence waiting for the cows to amble into the milking barn. So he feels that he comes to his love of storytelling honestly. Ron has been sharing stories and songs with audiences of all ages for more than thirty years. In schools, libraries, and at storytelling festivals throughout the southeast, Canada, and Mexico, he tells traditional and contemporary folktales from around the world- as well as bilingual stories and songs from Mexico.He often involves the audience in participation stories and sing-a-longs with his story-songs. "I believe strongly in the rich oral tradition of storytelling and the common experience it brings to us all" says Jones. With an undergraduate degree in theater, Ron spent several years as an actor touring with various theater companies on the east coast. After earning a Masters Degree in Library Science, he spent over twenty-two years with the Wake County Public Library System in Raleigh, NC as a children’s librarian and library administrator. During that time he developed systemwide programs for youth, founded and coordinated one of the longest running storytelling festivals in North Carolina, and taught storytelling at Meredith College in Raleigh. Upon leaving Wake County Public Library Ron became the Youth Services Consultant for the State Library of North Carolina in the Department of Cultural Resources. During that time he worked with libraries, schools, and other organizations throughout the state in improving library programs and services to the youth of North Carolina. He retired from the State Library in 2000 to pursue storytelling and writing full time. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the NC Public Library Director’s Association. He received the 2000 Emerging Artist Award from the Durham Arts Council, and was awarded THE ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE by Governor James B. Hunt, III. Ron has been an active member of the local, state, and national storytelling communities. As a founding board member and past president of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild, he has worked closely with other storytellers throughout the state to promote and support storytellers and the art of storytelling. He served for five years as the NC Liaison to the National Storytelling Network in Jonesborough, TN. Ron is currently touring STORIES BY THE BOOK, a program for adults with eight original stories focusing on the power and impact books and reading can have on our lives. In 2005 Ron released his first CD of stories and songs for children entitled I’d Rather Be a Dog…and Other Stories. His newest CD- DO TELL!…Cabin Tales from the Mountainside has just been released. He continues to write and perform at festival, libraries, and events around the country.

Performances

Ron has performed throughout the southeast, in Canada and in Mexico appearing in various venues:

• Schools & Libraries througout the southeast
• Festivals throughout the southeast
• NC Museum of Art, Raleigh
• Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC
• Baker’s Dozen Festival, Columbia, SC
• Arts Center, Provincetown, MA
• Toronto, Canada Storytellers’ Guild
• ImaginOn, Charlotte, NC
• NC Storytelling Guild
• Biltmore Inn, Asheville NC
• Oaxaca, Mexico

What audiences say about Ron Jones’ storytelling

• "That was the coolest, I really liked the part where the frog jumps across the river!" Jason, 3rd Grade
• My favorite part was the song…I’ll be singing that song about the dinosaur all day!" Devon, 1st Grade
• "That story really made me jump…I really yelled…it was great!" Kisha, 5th Grade
• "I have never seen anyone keep the children so enthralled!" Peggy, Librarian
• "You made me cry!…and made me feel like a child again too. Lovely." Sofia, 81 years old

Telephone Interviews

Ron is available for interview by phone with prior notice. Call (919) 286-7996 to arrange a telephone interview.

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	I’D RATHER BE A DOG…and Other Stories Hear Excerpts
	DO TELL! Cabin Tales from the Mountainside Hear Excerpts

To order online through PayPal online, click the buttons above or send $12 per CD plus $2 shipping and a check or money order to:

Ron Jones
2305 Englewood Ave.
Durham, NC 27705

 

I’D RATHER BE A DOG…and Other Stories

Excerpt from Story: I’d Rather Be a Dog (Story)

After rattling around North Carolina and the southeast sharing stories and songs with children in schools, libraries and at festivals- I finally gave in to the encouragement and gentle pressure of friends and fellow storytellers. Finally I recorded this first CD which includes several of my signature stories …and a couple of new ones thrown in for good measure.

This is an original story based very loosely on my first dog Ollie. While he was a very smart and talented canine, he had no aspirations for fame and as the story relates- he was happy just being a dog. Excerpt from Song: I’d Rather Be a Dog (Song) And what the story relates the song puts to rhyme- Ollie had rather just be a dog!

LITTLE OLD WOMAN AND HER BIG YELLOW CAT

Excerpt from story: The Old Lady and the Cat (Story) Early on when I moved from reading stories aloud to children this story was one of the first that I told aloud to children. It was inspired by Jack Kent’s THE FAT CAT based on a Norweigan folktale. Excerpt from song: The Old Lady and the Cat (Song) This is a short little ditty on the feeding frenzy of the Big Yellow Cat.

OLD FROG

Excerpt from story: Old Frog The story of this boastful but ill fated frog from the south was encouraged and inspired by the story The Foolish Frog found in PETE SEEGERS STORYTELLING BOOK. Excerpt from song: Ole Frog Song This is my version of the recurring cumulative song from the story.

COYOTE AND MOUSE

Adapted from a Mexican folktale, this story of two testy friends — Coyote and Mouse — finds a trickster being tricked. During a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico I found many folktales about sly Coyote, so I decided to add a version of my own.

JUAN PEDRO AND ABUELA ROSA

I first heard this bilingual “Squeaky Door” version done by Joe Hayes many years ago. This is my own version of this classic cumulative tale.

DO TELL! CABIN TALES FROM THE MOUNTAINSIDE

Early on in my storytelling career I was drawn to the tales of the Applachian Mountains. The simple but adventerous characters and settings always provided for a good story. When performing in schools and libraries the Jack Tales and other Appalachian folktales are constant favorites with audiences. I’ve tried to capture that feel and flavor with these Cabin Tales from the Mountainside.

UNCLE JAKE AND HIS PET RATTLESNAKE

Excerpt from story: Uncle Jake and His Pet Rattlesnake (Story) The idea for this story came from a joke Glenn Rounds told me many years ago while we were performing together. I got a good chuckle from Glenn when I told him this story that I crafted from his joke- to me that was an incredible compliment.

THE TOE

This is my version of the classic Appalachian jump story. I was at a gathering of storytellers when I first heard Jackie Torrence sharing her version- The Big Hairy Toe. Another version can be found as The Chunck of Meat in Richard Chase’s GRANDFATHER TALES. It has always been a hit at ghost storytelling sessions and around campfires. But the most fun is sharing it with school children- especially if it is just before lunch time!

CALEB AND SARA

Excerpt from story: Caleb and Sara (Story) Years ago I had the good fortune of being seated next to NC Author and Folklorist Richard Walser at a dinner party. We had a wonderful conversation about storytelling. I told him I often shared his stories from NORTH CAROLINA LEGENDS when telling in schools and libraries. Over the years Richard became a good friend and storytelling mentor. One of my favorite stories from his book is The Honeymoon- a brief tale that Richard based on a paragraph found in THE HEIRS OF ST. KILDA; A STORY OF THE SOUTHERN PAST by John Monroe, 1881. Excerpt from song: Sweet Sara (Song) I created my own version of the tale and also wrote a brief ballad- Sara, Sweet Sara, and sing it at the end of the story.

JACK AND THE TWO BOTTLES

Excerpt from story: Jack and the Two Bottles (Story) I don’t tell a lot of fairytales but one that I was drawn to is Clever Peter and the Two bottle found in an 1885 collection of stories- PEPPER AND SALT, by Howard Pyle. The theme of the put upon young man who outwits the devious king always reminded me of a Jack Tale. Jack and the Two Bottles is my retelling of the story.

I have taught storytelling as a full semester course at the college level. I also offer storytelling workshops for children and adults. The workshops can be negotiated for beginning, intermediate or advance levels and conducted in two, four, or six hour sessions.

• Workshops for teachers and librarians
• Incorporating storytelling into the curriculum
• Children as Storytellers
• Developing "Your" Story
• Workshops Series for Senior Citizens
• Imaging Your Story - Art Teachers
• Storytelling for Storytellers
• Storytelling and Creative Writing

 

As a storyteller I believe that stories entertain, inform, encourage creative thinking, and stimulate the imagination. I often use music and audience participation in storytelling. My repertoire covers a wide range of stories for both children and adults.

TRADITIONAL FOLKTALES

My stories come from various cultures around the world- from the trickster Anansi stories of West Africa, to the wisdom tales of the Far East, to bilingual stories from Mexico. Regional stories include Jack Tales and other Appalachian folktales, as well as Cherokee legends, ghost stories, and pirate stories of the North Carolina coast.

 

PARTICIPATION STORIES

Listening to stories is like taking an imaginary trip. Sometimes I involve the audience in the telling. Whether it’s a call and response story or a cumulative tale involving a sing-a-long verse, I want all the listeners to be on board for the journey.

 

FAMILY STORIES

Having grown up in large extended family of storytellers, many of my stories capture slices of life common to us all. My family stories help bring back memories of times, and places, and people in our lives. The stories are meant to tickle the funny bone while tugging on the heart strings at the same time.

LITERARY TALES

Storytelling is a most effective means of promoting books and reading- especially to children. Many of my stories are based on classic and contemporary children’s books.

I grew up on a dairy farm in North Carolina in a whole family of storytellers. After twenty-eight years as a library administrator and consultant, for the past ten years I been sharing stories with audiences of all ages. From traditional folktales to bilingual English/Spanish stories to original tales and legends- I strive to take audiences on an animated and high energy ride! My series of family stories are meant to make you laugh with joy or tug at your heart strings and everything between.

As a storyteller I believe strongly in the rich oral tradition of storytelling and the joy and mindfulness it brings to us all. I have performed in schools, libraries, museums, and at festivals throughout the southeast and in Canada and Mexico.

Ron I. Jones
2305 Englewood Ave.
Durham, NC 27705
919-286-7995