Mickey Jack Cones

Mickey Jack Cones (born in San Antonio, TX) is an American record producer, engineer, session musician, singer and songwriter. Raised in a musical family, he is the grandson of Glenn Gray Orchestra singer Jane Cones and son of Jackie Cones of The Cones Sisters;^[1] Produced by Barry Beckett for RCA during the late 80’s. Cones moved to Nashville in 1996 to finish his BBA (with an emphasis in studio production) at Belmont University.^[2]

Musical career

After graduating from Belmont Mickey produced, engineered, wrote and played all of the music that landed Joshua and Jacob Miller/”Nemesis Rising” a recording contract with Curb Records (LA). He also produced Curb Recording artist David Kersh in early 2000.^[3] Cones signed a 5 year publishing agreement with EMI Nashville that same year and has had songs recorded by artists such as Trace Adkins, Matt Stillwell, Nemesis Rising, Chad Hudson, Anson Carter, Julie Roberts and others. In 2002, Cones toured with Mercury recording artist Julie Roberts as her band leader (guitar and background vocals) and road manager. He toured with Roberts for 2 years and performed on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, the Country Music Awards, The Grand Ole Opry and Rascal Flatts’ “Here’s To You” tour.^[4]

Cones is best known for producing Trace Adkins’ “Love Will...” (CD),^[5] Jeff Bates, Kristy Lee Cook & Randy Houser’s “Wherever Love Goes” (single),^[6] Joe Nichols’ “Crickets” album and its number 1 single “Sunny and 75”.^[7] Mickey has also produced projects for Exile (“Kiss You All Over”), the Act of Valor soundtrack (“If The Sun Comes Up”), James Wesley (Broken Bow Records), Matt Stillwell (Average Joes Entertainment), Chad Hudson (Universal Music Group), Nicky Barot (UK), Damien Leith (Australian Idol winner) and Jimmy Fortune (Statler Brothers).^[3]

Cones is also a recording engineer. Some of his works include: George Strait’s “Love Is Everything” (CD), Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This” (CD), Alabama’s “Alabama & Friends” (CD), Lionel Richie’s “Tuskegee” (CD), Joe Nichols' “Crickets” (CD) and Jason Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” and “Night Train” albums.

Other artists that Cones has engineered are: Luke Bryan, Steven Tyler,^[8] Carrie Underwood, Motley Crue, Linkin Park, Kellie Pickler, Buck Cherry, Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry, Aerosmith, Kristen Kelly, Andy Griggs, Ludacris, 3 Doors Down, Julianne Hough, Eric Church, the cast of “Nashville” and many others.^[9]

Cones not only produces and engineers records, he plays, programs and sings on them as well. Mickey has played electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, keys, synthesizer, percussion, programmed and sung background vocals on major album projects for George Strait, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Reba McEntire, Steven Tyler, Billy Gilman, Country Strong (soundtrack), Heidi Newfield, Katrina Elam, Jeff Bates, Act of Valor (soundtrack), Chuck Wicks, Kevin Fowler, Thomas Rhett, Andy Griggs, Kristen Kelly and more.^[10]

References