John Paul Jones Born: Led Zeppelin's Secret Weapon

John Paul Jones was born John Baldwin in Sidcup, Kent, on January 3, 1946. He changed his name to avoid confusion with another musician in the London session scene where he was already one of the most sought-after bass players and arrangers before he turned twenty. He could read and write music fluently, a skill that was rare among rock musicians and invaluable in the studio, where his ability to sight-read arrangements and play multiple instruments made him efficient and reliable. He played bass on Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man," arranged strings for the Rolling Stones, and contributed to sessions for Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, and Dusty Springfield. When Jimmy Page was assembling a new band in 1968, Jones wrote to him offering his services, and the resulting collaboration became Led Zeppelin. He was the only member who could read music, and his role extended far beyond bass: he arranged the orchestral and choral sections, played keyboards on "No Quarter" and "Trampled Under Foot," contributed mandolin and recorder parts, and provided the harmonic sophistication that elevated Led Zeppelin's music beyond the blues-rock template of their peers. His bass playing was melodic and inventive, creating countermelodies that gave songs like "Ramble On" and "The Lemon Song" a depth that distinguished them from other hard rock of the era. After Led Zeppelin dissolved following John Bonham's death in 1980, Jones pursued a varied career in composition, producing, and performance, collaborating with R.E.M., Foo Fighters, and Diamanda Galas. He formed Them Crooked Vultures with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme in 2009.