We had the good fortune of connecting with Charles J. Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charles J., what role has risk played in your life or career?

Risk is the necessary component in all of creation. Risk is the first step building block because without some level of risk, nothing can really happen. There are 2 quotes that have been embedded in my psyche which might define my life and the topic of risk. The first quote is: “Sometimes the biggest risk is taking no risk at all”. I truly believe that. How many times do we encounter people who always like to “play it safe”, only to have their lives pass them by and then they are only left with regrets? No thanks! The only thing one can take with them when they pass are their experiences, thus without taking any risks in life, whether it be in business, personal or romantic, your experiences will be very few and far in between. At least the good ones that is.

The second quote is “Fortune favors the bold.” The second quote to me, exemplifies the topic of risk. Being “bold” often comes with taking risks. In my opinion, one begets the other. Usually people who often take risks have a different mindset than most. They are usually the entrepreneurs, the artists, the creative ones, and the mavericks of the world. They are the ones who usually are the “outside the box” type thinkers. Some like myself, can even take it to extremes as my philosophy is: why is everyone always looking for this imaginary box to then go and  think outside of? We live in a cyclical world and an infinite Universe. So why limit yourself?

In my life, taking risks has been the blueprint in everything I do. I will also admit that it has also come at a cost. From literally my first job as a busboy at 13 for a local restaurant in San Pedro, I knew that working for someone else was not in my DNA. Contemplating that idea in my early teens gave me the realization that to be an entrepreneur, or at least the attempt of becoming one with any hope of success, was going to come with taking risks. A lot of them. You know, those who never take risks, always work for those that do, so keep that in mind. A great quote by T.S Elliot states: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go”.

So with that said, the very first risk I took was leaving my good cash tip job as a waiter at 16 to start my own wedding and special event DJ business, which believe it or not, actually did quite well. Which then led me to getting my California Real Estate agent license at 18. Which also did quite well for a couple years until I took the major risk of giving it all up and moving to Nashville, Tennessee at 20 years of age to pursue my dream of becoming a country music recording artist. Most people don’t leave a great commission job in real estate to move halfway across the country to wait tables again, just for the pursuit of their dream. But again, I truly believed it was worth the risk.

Within a year of moving to Nashville, I was asked to take a leave of absence from my well paying executive mortgage loan officer position in what is now a Fortune 500 company, to teach country music line dancing in Ireland for a few weeks. All expenses paid. So I took the risk of taking a temporary leave of absence and went to Ireland. What was intended to be a 2 week “experience”, turned into a year long incredible adventure traveling all through Ireland including parts of Europe, being on TV shows, and becoming somewhat of a “mini-celebrity” in a small country of a little more than 3 million people.

Eventually every move I made and every risk I took, led me back to Nashville and led me to signing an 8 album major label recording contract with Universal records. In fact I was on the same label as Dolly Parton and had some of the biggest country music producers of all-time on my album. There was also a huge level of risk I took when the label and I butted heads often because although I love country music, I also love Latin music and I wanted to include Latin music “influences” into my songs and production. Lets just say that at that time, I wanted to be the “Julio Iglesias” of country music and the label wanted me to be a bigger version of Tim McGraw. Fortunately for me, due to a big multi-billion dollar merger between Universal and Polygram, the label that I was on folded and I became a free artist. Now some may ask why I state fortunately and it’s simple. I quickly found out that signing a 36 page major label recording contract comes at a huge risk. What is the risk? Well, they own your name, your images, your music, and pretty much you, while you are under contract. And they will let you know that as well if you don’t “meet their expectations”. I understand that it is a business and it is their money. But for the artist, many take the risk of signing and getting lost in the black hole of the music business or even worse, selling their Soul (hypothetically speaking) to achieve fame and success. .

The next stage of my life allowed me to take a risk going back into the mortgage business. From starting a mortgage company from the basement of my home, I took the risk of signing multiple contracts with the telephone book companies, (this was just before Google) for advertising on the front covers of their phone books. Needless to say, I had no idea how I was going to pay for them at that time but figured if I wanted to be successful, then I need to be the first thing the customer sees when they open that phonebook. From there, my business exploded to the point where I took the risk of becoming a major real estate investor.

I can honestly admit that for most of my accomplishments, I had no real clue on how I was going to get there or if it would even be successful. Most of my life, I lived by the motto: “If it’s to be then it’s up to me”. After acquiring over $30 million in investment properties which included over 150 rental homes, an apartment building, a bowling alley, and several commercial buildings, I also got caught up in the big financial collapse of 2008. This also forced me to take dire risks which needless to say, were not ethical, but at the time, I thought were my only option to save myself and the obligations of many of the people whose livelihood depended on me. Sometimes, when being a risk-taker is part of your DNA, you tend to make decisions from a different perspective. Meaning: I have always had the perception of being an “eternal optimist”, and when you combine that with a strong risk taking entrepreneurial spirit, you always believe or at least think you can “pull it off”, as I had done successfully so many times before. But sometimes, luck doesn’t always swing your way and not only did my own financial empire crash, so did my freedom for a short time.

The only thing that separates good judgment from bad judgment, are the experiences that came from bad decisions. Enlightenment is knowing the mistakes and being ‘conscious’ enough to no longer be ignorant in making them again. I own what I did and I don’t look at myself as any victim at all. I realized that all my crazy extreme life experiences, both the good and bad, were all part of my ‘evolution’ into my Higher-Self. I have no regrets, everything that I experienced was necessary in my life’s and Soul’s journey. I also learned how strong I am mentally, physically, and even Spiritually from it all.

However, sometimes your biggest breakdown, also leads to your biggest break-through. Without experiencing what I did, I would not be where I am today and truthfully, I would not change my experiences. You cannot break or destroy someone, who ultimately found their strength, from within their own destruction. I am actually grateful for the experience because, although it was not pleasant at all and almost cost me my life,(I discuss that in my book) as I have come to see it, it was all a Universal blessing as it allowed me to disconnect from society itself, to see the problem that IS society as the psychological prison which keeps most mentally enslaved within the confines of their own walls and illusion that people create and keep up themselves. Let’s be brutally honest here. Most people don’t have a life; they have a program they call life. That situation allowed me to read, study and digest hundreds of the most powerful Spiritual and metaphysical books ever written. I couldn’t have done what I did if I had been free, so in hindsight, it helped me set my life (Soul) course on track, whereas I had been all about business, making money, and making things happen before, yet always being unhappy once it did happen because it did not bring me the joy I thought it would. It was the ultimate mindfuck. I learned how to find my true God-given power and use it.

From those experiences and from everything I learned, I took the risk again and wrote 2 very bold, controversial and powerful books of which the first book was just released last September 2020 called TruthAvenger: Enlightening the Dumb mAsses from Ignorance, Illusions and Lies Vol. I. (Yes, the ‘m’ is lower case on purpose) I have since been called the George Carlin of metaphysics and have received many amazing reviews and great feedback. The book and more details are available exclusively at truthavenger.com. Releasing a book that is very controversial is nothing short of taking a massive risk, but again, I go back to my 2nd quote about fortune favoring the bold.

Since the release of the 1st TruthAvenger book, I have also decided to take another giant risk as well which is to create a music style that has simply not been done before. As I mentioned earlier, my initial desire when I had my record deal in the late 90’s was to be the ‘Julio Iglesias’ of country music. In the Summer of 2020, while finishing the final editing of my 1st book to be published and printed, I decided to make a video of the song What Color Am I and release it after some inspiration from my mother. The idea was really to make a visually impactful positive vibe music video with an empowering message after it that would bring some healing, some enlightenment to humanity, and some marketing to the book during what was a very chaotic and highly sensitive energy period for many around the world during the pandemic. The song was actually played before the U.S. Supreme Court in a high profile racial discrimination case.

Not long after the video was released, it caught the attention of a Nashville record executive who contacted me, but not in the way that I was expecting. So this head of A & R, tells me that they loved the song but they were more interested in some of the Latin country style music that they heard from some YouTube videos I had shared from music I recorded in the past and told me that it could be a huge niche market. So I decided to take the risk and go heavy into the studio and record this new music which I call “Country Fiesta”. This music makes you feel like you want to dance and move. Even the slow ballad songs seem ‘more alive’ because of the arrangement of the rhythm guitars and the bass lines. I jokingly tell people that if you can listen to this music and not at least move or vibe with it a little bit, you might want to check your pulse. Imagine being in the year 2021 and being so bold as to say that? That’s the definition of a risk-taker to answer this question asked, is it not? How can I back up such a statement? Because it’s true. I am combining an “authentic” organic fusion of country music and ranchera Latin music together. What country music is to America, ranchera is to Mexico. There are no boundaries, there are no limits and there are no walls, except the ones you create yourself.

It’s time country music evolves past believing that re-making Before the Next Teardrop Falls or thinking that Latin music is all ‘Tex-Mex’, is the extent of Latin in country music. Plus, all the research shows that for the last 10 years, the fastest growing audience in country music is the Hispanic market, yet they do not cater to that audience. Why not? Country radio needs to understand that most “Latinos”, love or already listen to country music. I am not here to play the country music game, but to recreate it. Why can’t I have a country song in a bachata, salsa or ranchera rhythm style? If country radio embraces my music, I will be truly grateful, if it doesn’t, then I will still make my music and get this to the masses. There are so many mediums available to artists now that were not available 20 years ago when I had my last record deal. Unlike my last music experience, I am here for the ride, the journey of it all, and not just the destination.

In the days where traditional style country music is almost a thing of the past, why can’t it be ‘re-imagined’ and still exist by bringing it into a new dimension of music that has the ability to appeal to an even bigger audience than ever before. Isn’t that brilliant marketing? Traditional hardcore country music was like a big thick sizzling steak. It was juicy, delicious, it filled you up and it went straight to the heart. You don’t hear that style much anymore these days. I jokingly use the analogy that it’s almost like the music has become very pop ‘soy and vegan friendly’ where it leaves the listener asking the infamous line ‘Where’s the Beef?’. My goal with Country Fiesta is to bring back some of the ‘steak’ elements that used to be the signature of traditional country music, only this time, serve it on a hot sizzling fajita platter.

I had this idea of this music in my head for literally 20+ years, only I was not in the position to make it happen whereas now I am. Even my own mother who was very excited when I told her that I would be going back into the studio to record new music asked me what I was going to produce and when I told her the idea of combining country music songs with authentic Latin ranchera and bachata rhythms and styles, she looked at me like a monkey doing a math problem. Considering that she grew up listening to rancheras, even she had no idea of what this would sound like. I am half Latino by the way and all my family from my mother’s side is from deep in the mountains of Sonora, Mexico.

Thankfully, I became aware of a local young ‘musical genius’ guy who played in mariachi bands all his life named Angel Duran, who had a background of music composition from reading an article here from VoyageLA that showcased him. So I reached out to him, we had lunch and I told him that we have the ability to create something that is totally new, fresh and exciting. Let’s go in the studio and make something incredible happen. I told Angel from the first day we were in the studio that I have one important rule moving forward. He asked what it was and I stated, “The first rule is that there are no rules, we create what we want and let’s see what we can get away with”. And that’s exactly what the finished product is. I knew exactly what I wanted to hear and told him, and through our collaboration, he was able to put that in chart forms and find the musicians to make it happen. We make a great team.

If you want to discuss risk, this entire album is one big risk factor. One song we produced is the first ever English speaking Latin country bachata rhythm song. We took a mega-hit techno song by Rihanna and turned it into a Latin country bachata with a reggae feel that is beyond anything I have ever heard before. We did a Latin country bolero song. Another song I wrote called ONE,  is an English speaking Latin country style song that rhythmically sounds like it came off of a Pepe Aguilar album. Another original song named Latin Lover, we took La Bamba and Santana influences and mixed it with a steel guitar and a low gritty country twangy guitar. That song has radio-hit all over it. I took a Julio Iglesias song I loved and translated it into English and we added our Latin country flair to it. And to top it off, we took what is probably known as the “Holy Grail” of country music which is the classic George Jones song He Stopped Loving Her Today, did a “remake-over” and added trumpets and a Mexican harp to it and it sounds absolutely incredible. I am sure there will be some “good ol boys” that will think what I did was sacrilegious to that song, but hey, gotta take a risk right? Our first release will be with our Latin country reimagined version of the infamous popular Fleetwood Mac song Dreams which we just finished the music video for and I think will be the perfect introduction for the public to hear what our new musical style is all about. Essentially, we are literally creating our own new “genre” style of music.

We will start releasing the first song Dreams within the next month along with a video. My new goal is to travel the world performing this new style of “Country Fiesta” music as CharlesJ. & the Conquistadors, and creating much more of it for people to enjoy all while also promoting and writing more books. Although the “Author” side and the “Recording Artist” side of me are two different personas. I do not want to be one of those ‘self-righteous’ artists on stage or using my platform to ‘preach’ to people how they should believe or what to think. I would then be impeding on others’ free will and that’s not me. I will walk a very fine line to keep those two separate so as to not alienate my audience. I personally hate it myself when I go to a concert and the artist or an athlete starts giving me their political or religious beliefs. People will have access to my book and information if they so choose to seek it out themselves or relate to it, but if not, that’s perfectly fine by me. However, whether it’s through my music or through my books, I am one who understands the power of the Universe and through either channel, I so want to influence others to their own power. I know that risk sometimes comes in not knowing what you are doing, but either I take the risk, or lose the chance. In the end, the more faith you have in your own power and desires, the more comfortable one is in taking the risk to make them a reality. Because without risk, there is no creation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I often have people come visit me here in LA and in my opinion, the best place to bring someone is definitely the ocean. To be more specific, the Strand area in Redondo Beach and renting bikes to ride up to Venice. Stopping off at Captain Kidd’s Fish market in Redondo Beach and having a fresh seafood lunch with a bowl of their Lobster bisque soup which I like mixed together with their clam chowder and a beer by the ocean while parking your bikes, is just too perfect.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

My first Shoutout would go to Angel Duran who I mentioned in my interview who I just happened to discover his story and talent from an article that was done here on VoyageLA. Working with him has been a blessing and since working with him, we have collaborated to make musical history with not only our unique and groundbreaking Latin country music production, but also in song writing and setting up a Latin country music movement that has just started rolling and quickly gaining momentum.
The second Shoutout would be to Chris Burr who I became acquainted with because of Angel. Not only is Chris an incredible and talented recording artist himself releasing material as El Alburr, we have written this amazing song called Baja California that you will soon hear and furthermore, Chris is a talented expert guitarra de golpe player. Having his unique sound on my album has been a great experience and I am quite fortunate as I am also quite confident that there is no other “country album” that has ever had a true golpe on their album.

The third Shoutout would go to my mixer and engineer Carmen Grillo. Carmen is a multi-talented individual who has a resume like no other. Not only is he a Grammy nominated mixer, a platinum selling album writer for the band Chicago, but he was also the lead guitar player for a decade to the legendary horn-based Soul band Tower of Power. His involvement and expertise input at times, made this music even more amazing than I had expected. Carmen runs Big Surprise Music recording studios where we recorded the entire album.

The fourth Shoutout would be to the Latin Country Music Association. “The goal and mission of the Latin Country Music Association (LCMA) is to create, promote, and support the rise in popularity of a new genre of music to the world, “authentic” Latin Country music. Authentic Latin country music is not just some singer with a Latin heritage or part Latino artist singing ‘pop’ country music, but the fusion of combining the 2 different styles of music into one.” I am excited to be working with this organization on getting this movement started. You can find more about them at www.Latincountry.org

The last Shoutout is more of a personal one and that would go to my mother. She has been the greatest love and support a son could ever ask for. She has provided for me the best contrast to write my books and also in the encouragement to pursue my music ambitions. My popularity may rise again and I may have fans one day claiming to be my “#1Fan”, however there is no doubt that title will always be held by my mother. Rightfully so.

Website: https://charlesjjones.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realCharlesJ.Jones

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34hJd2uagWY

Other: www.truthavenger.com

Image Credits
All images copyright property of Metamundo

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