A foundation created in honor of Billy Jones, the New York City nightlife fixture who died last June at age 45, has officially launched. The Billy Jones Forever Foundation will annually award a group of emerging music professionals with direct financial support for relocation, housing, equipment, travel, and other needs. Recipients will also receive long-term mentorship and access to a network of industry relationships.
Jones died after facing glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was a musician, curator, club owner, and manager who co-founded Baby's All Right, a 280-capacity indie venue in Brooklyn that opened in 2013. According to Billboard, the club hosted performances by SZA, Cypress Hill, Lil Yachty, Blood Orange, Charli XCX, Mac DeMarco, James Murphy, David Byrne, Hot Chip, Courtney Barnett, Willow Smith, Jack White, and Billie Eilish, among others.
The Billy Jones Forever Foundation is a fund of Make Something, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations and scholarship applications are currently open.
Jones's sister BreAnn Tassone addressed her brother's legacy in a statement. "Billy was devoted to music, to New York and to the creative, talented dreamers and risk takers who make this city what it is," she said. "Though he had to leave us, he still has work to do. We are excited and grateful to know he can still do the work he was so passionate about through the recipients of this organization. We are so proud that Billy's legacy is one of connection, inspiration and community. His positivity, magic and 'Yeah, let's do it!' spirit can live on here. For us, his family, that means more than words can say."
His close friend David Jacobs also spoke about the motivation behind the foundation. "Billy was one of the most true blue real rockers I have ever met in all my travels," Jacobs said, "and because he lived with such integrity and unwavering commitment to his music community, we wanted to honor that spirit forever, and this scholarship felt like the perfect way to pay it forward, just as Billy did every day we were lucky enough to have him around."
The foundation reflects Jones's role as a connector and advocate within New York's independent music world. Baby's All Right became a fixture of the Brooklyn scene during his time leading it, and the foundation aims to extend that work to people trying to break into the industry.
