Stereophonics

Stereophonics formed in Cwmaman, a small village in the South Wales valleys, in 1992. Kelly Jones, Richard Jones, and Stuart Cable had grown up together and shared a musical vocabulary rooted in classic rock, soul, and the specific experience of small-town Welsh life. Jones's songwriting — observational, character-driven, and possessed of a genuine emotional weight — gave the band a distinctive voice from the beginning.

'Word Gets Around' (1997) was a strong debut — 'Local Boy in the Photograph', 'More Life in a Tramp's Vest', and 'A Thousand Trees' established Jones as one of the most gifted storytellers in British music. 'Performance and Cocktails' (1999) was the commercial breakthrough — 'The Bartender and the Thief' and 'Just Looking' were both top five hits. The album reached number one.

The Stereophonics have continued to record and tour with remarkable consistency. Stuart Cable's death in 2010 was a devastating blow, but the band have continued in his memory. 'Keep the Village Alive' (2015) and 'Scream Above the Sounds' (2017) were both strong late-career albums. Jones remains one of the most reliable and underrated songwriters in British music.