Grammy winner Rickie Lee Jones takes Buskirk-Chumley stage

Grammy award-winning musician Rickie Lee Jones will perform at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 8 p.m. tonight. Best known for her 1979 hit "Chuck E's in Love," Jones currently focuses on songs with strong political statements. \n"She was really big at one time. I think she took time off for a while," Bloomington resident Kay Olges said. "People would probably recognize her music if they heard it."\nAlthough Jones has continued to release solos and albums, the nature of how to categorize her music could explain why her music is not as well-known as it used to be.\nJones could best be described as an atypical pop/jazz singer with political songwriting skills that give her songs and albums deeper meaning. Her style is unique, so she can't be pigeon-holed into an exact category.\nJones uses her music to reveal information about herself and international political issues. One song includes some very strong anti-President Bush statements. \nJones' 1979 breakthrough album garnered a Grammy for Best New Artist. Also nominated for best record, best pop vocal, best rock vocal, best song and best new artist, Jones has gone on to release many other records.\n"Chuck E's in Love" is a favorite of Bloomington resident Susan Beard, who said she enjoyed listening to it on the radio when it was released.\nBeard described Jones as being similar to singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.\n"She just wasn't as big," Beard said. "She looked a lot like (Mitchell) though. She lived in a 'canyon,' had long hair and wore a beret-type hat."\nJones' current album and U.S. tour titled "The Evening of My Best Day," is a compilation of Jones' songwriting endeavors since 1997. \nDanielle McClelland, director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, said she is very excited to have Jones performing in Bloomington. \n"The majority of the management staff are fans," McClelland said. "It was very, very exciting to be contacted by Jones' booking agent, who saw the BCT online. It's a new direction for Bloomington to attract an act of this caliber." \nMcClelland said she was excited about the show because she has been a fan since she saw Jones in concert about 15 years ago in Portland, Ore. She said it was the best concert she had ever seen.\n-- Contact staff writer Shauna Steele at .