Grand Duo of Bagpipers

James Patrick Jones

        James is a seventh-generation native Texan and proud descendant of many who fought to keep the South free. Trained by his father to play the Scottish Highland Bagpipe, he has competed individually and performed privately and with various bands for the last 21 years. James delights in using his various God-given talents in both heritage and worship settings, believing that his heritage is a major part of who God crafted him to be. This being so, James proudly pipes for both SCV functions and church services and is very pleased to be a part of this momentous event.

William Jones (Piperwill)

          William was born in 1946 in San Antonio, Texas.  He first learned the Scottish Highland pipes at the age of 15 at his father's art studio there in LaVillita, taking regular lessons from Rob McGregor.  After the family moved to Los Angeles, California, he joined the Fraser Highlander Pipe Band in Burbank, California and played there for 3 years.  After graduating from college and joining the FBI, William was assigned to the Detroit office, and there had the opportunity to play with a Grade 2 competing band, the St. Andrews Society, and there he studied under Professional pipers John Goodenough and Dave Martin.  He later played with the City of Windsor Police Band in Ontario, Canada, and upon his transfer to Los Angeles in 1977, he took on the formation and Pipe Major duties of the Clan Donnachaidh Pipe Band, the only Clan sponsored band in the country at that time.

             He and his son James took lessons in Los Angeles from James McColl, a Scottish Open piper of great repute.  William also attended the piping school at Cors D' Lene, Idaho, and there studied under the former Pipe Major of the Cameron Highlanders, Evan McCrae.  He transferred to Houston in 1983, and became a member of the Houston Highlanders, and was their Pipe Major for one year.  He also played briefly with the Hamilton Band in Houston.  He is now the Pipe Major of the Black Bexar Pipe Band of San Antonio, and regularly teaches and competes with that group.

             William and his father, the late Tom Jones, were charter members of the Gustav Hoffmann Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), New Braunfels, Texas, and William and his son James are still active members with that camp.  William's great-great Grandfather, was Oran Milo Roberts, President of the Secession Convention in Texas in 1861, and Governor of that State in 1878. 

             He has played numerous SCV and League of the South functions, including the Jackson, Mississippi rally in 2001, held at the courthouse to preserve the flag of the State of Mississippi from alteration to remove the battle flag portion. Members of the Black Bexar Pipe Band, with James and William, were proud to welcome H.K. Eggerton to Austin this year following his march across Dixie.  They played Dixie, as HK entered the grounds of the State Capital complex.