It’s known as “country music with chili peppers.” That’s how Stephanie Urbina Jones describes her music.
The longtime singer has blazed trails from Texas to Mexico with her history-making honky tonk mariachi with their twist of classic country rock with a twang and intoxicating, joy-filled sounds of Mexico.
The musician and her band will be in the Permian Basin this month as part of Hot Summer Nights with a performance that’ll take place at 7 p.m. June 24 at The Ector Theatre.
“I’m so excited,” Jones said. “Every time, I don’t think I’ve ever in my life, and I’ve been on the road for 20 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to share this music. You guys are getting to hear the beginning of what will be our album that we’ll be releasing in the next couple of months called Manuel’s Destiny so everyone’s excited. I’m excited to share that with everybody.”
She knows she’s been to the Permian Basin before but she’s not sure if she’s been to Odessa.
She recounted a time when she last visited Midland around 2015 when she was on her way to New Mexico.
“I have been in Midland for a house concert,” Jones said. “This is kind of amazing. It was a couple of years ago. I was going out to New Mexico to record my first honky tonk mariachi and as an independent artist at the time, people were helping support that happening. This couple hosted us and our concert in Midland so that we could come through and get fed and have a place to stay. I have a huge gratitude in my heart for those people and for Midland and Odessa.”
As for what prompted her to go into singing as well as the story behind the “chili peppers,” Jones says it goes back to her grandmother.
“Well, honestly, it was inspired when my little Mexican grandmother, was passing from this world and to the next,” Jones said. “At the time, I was a songwriter in Nashville and I loved what I was doing. But she was passing and she took my hand right before she took her last breath and said “you are going to a messenger and you’re going to be traveling Texas and the world, making country western music with chili peppers.”
Jones said she loved her job as a songwriter at the time but her grandmother’s message “lit a passion” into her heart.
“I’ve been making records since then. Nine albums later and I’ve always been sprinkling in a Spanish guitar or an accordion or a trumpet but this, with traveling with the mariachis in their outfits and their sombreros and passion. Wait until you hear it. It’ll be so joyful.”
Jones has performed from the first gritos to the last yee haws, from the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry to the two-stepping dance halls of Texas to the festivals around the world, sharing the love of culture, stories and songs that have brought people together.
Jones grew up in central Texas, specifically near San Antonio.
“My grandparents used to listen to country music. That included all of my favorites from Patsy Cline to Willie Nelson to Merle Haggard and at the same time, they’d be listening to songs from Mexico. Then, we’d have mariachis that would rehearse in our neighborhoods before they went down to the Mercado in San Antonio to play. From a very early age, the combination of these sounds and stories and songs were my passion and my love. It has been my dream come true to take the state of Texas, I’m honored that I was the first independent artist to go number one on the music chart. I’m a song writer and all that but really, it was amazing to make history on the Grand Ole Opra, bringing basically our Texas culture heritage to that stage with honky tonk mariachi. We’re touring with the honky tonk mariachi band.”
Her mariachi includes honky tonk guitars, drums as well as trumpets, violins, viheulas and guitarrons.
“It’s just a symphony of sound and it’s so much fun,” Jones said. “It’s joyful and passionate. I just love it.”
Over the years, Jones has had the honor of playing at festivals in 14 different countries including the prestigious Montreaux Jazz Festival and Magic Town Music Fest in Mexico, Festival Country Rendezvous in France, Country Gold in Japan, Gstaad Festival in Switzerland and the Belladrum Tartan Heart Fest in Scotland.
Out of all the appearances, nothing tops the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
“As a Texan, as an artist, growing up in country music, that’s the stage,” Jones said. “When they embrace your culture and music, it’s just amazing. They all are amazing. To date, they’ve invited me back every six months. I’ve played six times, including Dolly Parton’s 50th anniversary.”
Jones talked about her songwriting process and described it as “like communicating with God.”
“For me, I’ll become obsessed about an idea or a word or a melody,” Jones said. “All of a sudden, I can’t get something out of my mind or heart. It’s like it’s singing to me. Then I’ll just make sure I take the time, whether I’m in a hotel room or at home or on a bus or plane, I’ll just write away until I get to the point where I say ‘that’s it.’ and feel that the song has been delivered. These days, I don’t write a song unless I’m really passionate about it. I’m writing books now and discerning about what ideas I’m working on because we all have a limited time.”
If you go
- What: Stephanie Urbina Jones.
- When: 7 p.m. June 24.
- Where: Ector Theatre.
- Where to reserve tickets: tinyurl.com/2zp3m8f2
