Ever since Durand Jones' grandmother gave him his first instrument, he's never looked back.
"I knew since I was 5 years old and I saw marching bands down the street, I knew I wanted to play music," Jones told "GMA." "Whenever she got me a saxophone I was like 11 or 10. I just clung to it," Jones said.
Years later, Jones, the lead singer of the group Durand Jones & the Indications, would go on to meet his bandmates guitarist Blake Rhein and drummer Aaron Frazer at Indiana University. Jones remembers the group connected instantly with their passion for music and set out to make a record with strong vocals and deep soulful music.
Jones never intended to study at Indiana University but was invited by musician Otis Murphy to join their graduate program. When the Louisiana native accepted the school’s offer, he planned to leave behind singing for a career as a saxophonist, but rediscovered his passion for singing soon after he accepted.
The band was picked up by Colemine records after their song "Smile" caught the attention of the label's owner. Their debut album was recorded in an Indiana basement on a budget of just a mere $452. "When Durand Jones & The Indications debut album was released, we had no idea what the world would think," said Colemine Record owner Terry Cole, according to the band’s website. "They didn’t have 'buzz.' They didn’t have a following. They didn’t have the measured flash of more polished operations. But as the final mixes spun off of the master reel, we knew what they did have was one remarkable soul record. To our delight, the record was a smash and their no-frills LP continues to fly off the shelves."
Now the group is touring throughout the world with stops in the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands and California.
"It's just like my dreams are coming true," Jones told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts.
Durand Jones & the Indications talked to Roberts on Dressing Room Reveal about their new self-titled album and performed two of the songs featured on the soundtrack.
The group performed their hit “Smile,” a single expressing the hardships about losing that special someone in your life. Their second selection “Is It Any Wonder?” features Aaron Frazer as lead vocals.
Their new self-titled album is available on multiple streaming platforms.
