A scholarship and mentorship fund honoring Billy Jones, the late co-founder of Brooklyn venue Baby’s All Right, has launched to provide direct financial support and industry access to emerging music professionals.
A Multifaceted New York Music Career
Jones arrived in New York in the early 2000s and built a career spanning roles as a musician, curator, promoter, venue owner, record store proprietor, and manager. He booked shows at Sin-é, Pianos, The Dance, and Elvis Guesthouse before co-founding Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg in 2013. The venue hosted early performances by artists including SZA, Billie Eilish, and Blood Orange. Jones died on June 7, 2025, at age 45, after a battle with glioblastoma.
Scholarship and Mentorship Program
Each year, the Billy Jones Forever Foundation will select a cohort of early-career music professionals and award grants to help cover:
- Relocation costs
- Housing
- Equipment
- Travel
- Other barriers to opportunity
Recipients will also receive long-term mentorship and connections to an established network of industry relationships. The foundation operates as a fund of Make Something, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Applications are currently being accepted.
BreAnn Tassone, Jones’s sister, said 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. 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.”
