Early life and musical beginnings
Jill Jones was born in Lebanon, Ohio, to an African-American mother and an Italian father, the latter a jazz drummer. Her mother was a model and singer, and Jill was exposed early to musical influences in her home. She began learning music and writing songs as a teenager, and by age 15 she was working as a backing vocalist—especially with Teena Marie, whose mother was managing Jill and whose tours gave Jill early exposure.
In 1980, at age 18, Jill met Prince when Teena Marie was opening for Prince’s Dirty Mind tour. Prince was impressed by Jill’s voice, encouraged her to pursue singing, and kept in touch. Over time, she transitioned from backing vocalist to a more direct collaborator in Prince’s projects.
Work with Prince / Recording & collaborations
In 1982, Jill was invited to the Sunset Sound studio to provide backing vocals on tracks for Prince’s 1999 album (credited as “J.J.”). She also appeared in videos for 1999, Little Red Corvette, and Automatic. She joined the 1999 tour as a backing vocalist (with Vanity 6) and later moved to Minneapolis to be more involved with Prince’s circle.
Over the mid-1980s, Jill also contributed vocals on albums from artists in Prince’s orbit (Sheila E., The Time, Apollonia 6, Mazarati) and on various side projects.
In 1987, she released her self-titled debut album Jill Jones (on Prince’s Paisley Park / Warner Bros), with many songs written and/or produced by Prince (with assistance from others like David Z). The album was recorded over several years (1982–1986) and involved many of Prince’s collaborators (the Revolution, members from his wider band)
One of the singles, “Mia Bocca,” became a top 10 hit in Italy (peaking around #6). However, the album did not chart well in the U.S., and promotion there was limited.
After the 1980s, Jill continued working in music with varying intensity—collaborating with other artists, experimenting with styles (rock, dance, acoustic), releasing more material later, and also balancing personal life. In the 1990s, she joined Chic (with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards) for touring and appears on Chic – Live at Budokan.
“She’s Always in My Hair” & the relationship with Prince
One enduring piece of their shared story is the Prince song “She’s Always in My Hair,” which was the B-side to his 1985 single Raspberry Beret. The song was widely interpreted (and confirmed by sources) as being about Jill Jones—Prince used the metaphor to express how she was mentally and emotionally in his thoughts. In interviews, engineer Susan Rogers and others recalled that Prince had affection for Jill and that the lyrics came from that emotional place.
The song’s sessions began in December 1983, during the same creative period when some tracks like Erotic City and We Can Funk were also evolving; Prince revisited the track in 1984 before releasing it as a B-side. In Diffuser.fm, it’s described as a tribute to Jill and his affection for her, even while noting the complicated dynamics in the Paisley Park / protégée relationships.
In their personal lives, Jill and Prince had an on-off relationship over time, mixing professional collaboration with romantic dynamics. Some reports suggest Prince even pressured cosmetic changes to her appearance in their disagreements over direction, though Jill has spoken about resisting those pressures.
Acting / Film appearances: Purple Rain & Graffiti Bridge
Jill had cameo/small roles in the films Purple Rain (1984) and Graffiti Bridge (1990). In Purple Rain, she appears as a waitress in a scene. In Graffiti Bridge, she also appears (though in a more minor capacity).
These roles tie her not just musically but visually into the Prince film universe, reinforcing her avatar within his artistic world.
Later career & legacy
After her peak years with Prince, Jill’s career had fits and starts. She released a follow-up album (entitled Two) in 2001. Her musical style over time shifted toward acoustic, introspective, and dance hybrids. She has also been involved in visual arts more recently (painting).
Her first album remains a touchstone for fans of the Prince era—an example of how Prince’s mentoring could morph into a distinctive artist’s voice.
In more recent years, she has re-emerged occasionally in the music world, performing, releasing singles, appearing in tribute events, and preserving her legacy tied to the Prince orbit.
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