He also reportedly logged a number of firsts for African Americans: He was the first to play in the Washington Redskins Professional Band, the first to play for the Ice Capades, and was among the first African Americans to play in the pit orchestra at the National Theatre.

Jones was the founder and director of the jazz studies program at the University of the District of Columbia, where he also wrote and arranged work for collegiate jazz ensembles and helped develop the university's jazz archives. Two weeks ago, he was declared UDC faculty member of the year.