Linda Jones was born in the City of Newark NJ, United States. She started singing in her family's gospel group, the JonesSingers at the age of six. Her first recording was"Lonely Teardrops" under the name of Linda Lane on Cub Records in 1963. She was discovered by songwriter Jerry Harris who introduced her to producer George Kerr. After a few critically acclaimed singles on Atco Records in 1964 and Blue Cat Records the following year, Kerr took her to Warner Bros. Records' R&B subsidiary, Loma Records in 1967. The first Loma release proved to be her biggest success, which the Legendary vocalist recorded the song “Hypnotized” in one take while reading the lyric sheet. The ballad, "Hypnotized" reached No. 4 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 21 on the Hot 100. This proved to be the label's best-selling record and it was followed by two further hits, including "What Have I Done (To Make You Mad)" (No. 8 R&B, No. 61 pop), and an album.
After Loma closed in late 1968, Jones had a final single on the main Warner label before joining Neptune Records, run by Philadelphia record producers, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Two singles, both produced by Kerr, saw some R&B success before she signed for All Platinum subsidiary, Turbo Records, in New Jersey in 1971. A powerful revamped version of the former Jerry Butler and The Impressions hit, "For Your Precious Love" reached both the R&B (No. 15) and pop (No. 74) charts in 1972 and saw her career take off again. Reviewing her 1972 album, Your Precious Love, in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).
Shortly after the end of her national tour supporting the album, Jones died at her mother's home at the age of 27, while resting between matinee and evening shows at New York City's Apollo Theater in Harlem. She had been a diabetic for most of her life and slipped into a coma (or more likely, insulin shock) while sleeping.
All Platinum put out three albums of previously issued and unreleased material after her death and in 2008, her daughter, Terry Jones, along with Helen Bruner, produced an album featuring her mother's vocals released on Jones’ label Philerzy Productions. One of the tracks, "Baby I Know" was nominated for a Grammy at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. In 2008 Linda’s hometown of Newark New Jersey City Council declared her birthday December 14th officially “Linda Jones Day” in the City of Newark.
December 14, 2021 The City of Newark New Jersey honored Linda by renaming the street where Linda lived, Sherman Avenue is now “Linda Jones Way”. On December 14, 2021 it was a Spectacular Trifecta Day! Friends, fans and family celebrated Linda’s Birthday, Linda Jones Day and street renaming to “Linda Jones Way”. As of March 2022 Linda Jones’ items are on display in the Legends Exhibit at the Grammy Museum in Newark, New Jersey.
September 24, 2023, the late Soul Legend Linda Jones was posthumously inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The prestigious ceremonies took place in the city of Detroit, where Linda's daughter, Terry Jones, graciously accepted the honor on behalf of her mother's enduring legacy and March 12, 2023, WMEL Radio bestowed a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award upon the esteemed Linda Jones, a tribute graciously accepted by her daughter, Terry Jones, on behalf of her mother's enduring legacy.