Jones grew up in a musical family in Cincinnati and moved to Chicago in 1972. She is an avid painter and published author. ''The only thing that motivated me to move here was I wanted to perform,'' she says. ''I wanted to sing. I wanted to act. I wanted to dance.'' Bands: Jones has written and sung with numerous, diverse bands, including early Ministry (she wrote the hit ''I Wanted to Tell Her''), the Shay Jones Gang, Panama, Tropico, Treatment, Third Rail and Nicholas Tremulis` band. Her first band, back in Cincinnati, was a country-and-western outfit called Sand Castle.More collaborations: Jones also has worked with R.E.O. Speedwagon, keyboardist Patrick Moraz and jazz pianist Frank Caruso, and she has written lyrics for Joe Smooth and others. Jones sang for Hotel Carlos (a five-piece original world-beat dance band), Fantasya (an eight-piece original and cover jazz band) and UN Beat (an 11-person cover dance band). ''I`ve always worked with three bands. When one band wasn`t working, I would work with another one.'' Sound: ''I put a lot of emotion in my songs. It`s a performance. It's like a play. You have to feel what you`re performing or people aren't going to believe you.'' Influences: ''I love people who sing with depth: Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt-I identify with her and Joni Mitchell more than anybody.''