Carvin Jones Blues Guitarist Dies at 60

Carvin Jones, the Texas-born and Phoenix-based blues guitarist widely celebrated as the “King of Strings,” has died at the age of 60. His passing was confirmed by friends and family through a statement shared on social media.

“It is with immeasurable sadness that we share that Corvin Keith Anthony Jones, known to his family and friends around the world as Carvin Jones, the ‘King of Strings,’ passed away in the early morning of September 20, 2026,” the statement read. The family noted his deep love for performing, which often involved stepping off the stage and directly into the crowd to connect with fans.

A Lifelong Devotion to the Blues

Carvin "The King of Strings" Jones (Photo: Stephanie Koch) — Carvin “The King of Strings” Jones (Photo: Stephanie Koch)

Born in Lufkin, Texas, Jones built a sound deeply rooted in East Texas tradition, seamlessly blending blues, gospel, R&B, and rock. His musical journey began after discovering his grandfather’s B.B. King records, leading him to pick up his first guitar at age seven courtesy of his grandmother. Largely self-taught, he relocated to Arizona at age 19, eventually taking his distinct style across 37 countries and three continents.

Over his career, Jones shared stages and bills with a formidable roster of blues and rock royalty, including B.B. King, Santana, Jeff Beck, Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Cocker, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Eric Clapton famously touted Jones as “a young cat out of Phoenix who I think is the next up-and-coming blues player,” and Guitarist named him one of the top 50 blues guitarists of all time in 2001.

Legacy On and Off the Stage

Rather than relying on a single breakthrough record, Jones forged his reputation the hard way: through relentless touring. As The Blues Magazine noted, he built a career on “returning to the stage night after night and winning over another audience.” He released more than a dozen albums throughout his career.

Offstage, Jones maintained a strong connection to his community. A devoted basketball fan who sponsored and coached youth teams, he also launched “Carvin Cares” during the pandemic, using his own funds to deliver groceries to elderly residents throughout Phoenix.