JESSELEE JONES

JesseLee Jones is the proprietor of Robert’s Western World and the leader of its house band, Brazilbilly, in Nashville, Tennessee. JesseLee was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and came from very humble and troubled beginnings. Growing up in one of the world’s largest cities, he was influenced by an incredible and eclectic repertoire of musical styles and languages.

After he discovered American Music, ie, Negro Spiritual, Gospel, Hillbilly Music, Traditional Classic Country, and Rockabilly Music, he longed to pursue a music career in America. JesseLee holds American Films, American Classic Vehicles, and Classic Instruments very close to his heart.

He immigrated to the U.S. in 1984 and, after a long and rocky journey, he found himself in Peoria, Illinois. Robbed of his belongings on a Greyhound bus on his first day in the USA, and unable to speak the language, he was taken in by a family associated with his church. He worked hard babysitting, cooking, doing household chores, and delivering newspapers on a
long driving route, in exchange for room and board.

He began to learn English by watching Sesame Street with the family’s children. Playing gigs on his off time, he quickly became a local nightclub favorite.

The most memorable performance though, was when he led a courtroom of new American Citizens, singing “America the Beautiful” the day he became a U.S. citizen on a cold 16th of November, 1990.

JesseLee moved to Nashville in the early ’90s and worked on the difficult task of making a name for himself in “Music City”. It was Robert Moore, founder of Robert’s Western World, who first recognized his potential and booked him to play there in the spring of 1995. A member of BR-549, which was the house band at the time, called JesseLee the “Brazilian Hillbilly.” He instantaneously became known as Brazilbilly.

In the years since Brazilbilly was born, the band has gained much popularity and recognition playing as the house band at Robert’s Western World for the past 29 years. In addition to playing a regular Friday and Saturday night set, the band has played many other venues and events, including a performance for Vice President Al Gore as the results of the 2000 Presidential Election were announced. The band has toured Europe, South America, hosted many live radio broadcasts of The Midnight Jamboree from Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadour Theater, played multiple SiriusXM Outlaw cruises, played the Ameripolitan Awards shows, opened with and for major country music acts, and played many special events, parties, and benefits across the U.S.