"It's a feeling."

The Billy Jones Forever Foundation is a living tribute to that ethos.

We exist to channel Billy's love of music and people into tangible pathways for the next generation of creators, curators, and industry leaders.

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Who Billy Was

Billy Jones

Billy Jones Forever honors the life, vision, and spirit of Billy Jones — a beloved New York City music curator, promoter, club owner, record shop proprietor, music manager, fierce friend, and mentor whose influence rippled through every corner of the indie, electronic, and nightlife scenes.

In 2025, Billy lost a courageous battle with glioblastoma at age 45.

Billy's legacy is inseparable from the city he loved. After arriving in New York in the early 2000s, he worked as a booker at venues like Sin-e, Pianos, The Dance, and Elvis Guesthouse, helping shape the sound of the East Village and Williamsburg.

In 2013, he co-founded Baby's All Right, a 280-capacity venue in Williamsburg, which quickly became a touchstone for independent and breakout artists alike — early shows for SZA, Billie Eilish, Blood Orange, and more found a home there.

But Billy was more than a venue owner or promoter — he was a connector, mentor, and someone whose warmth and generosity made people feel seen. His clubs became the scene. Billy believed in access.

Community Voices

"Billy Jones will be remembered as someone who really, truly, deeply, and genuinely believed in the people around him, before they even believed in themselves. He was the life of every room he walked into. He was a living legend."
— Rachel Brown
"He spent his life walking into rooms we all might have been intimidated by and then leaving the door open behind him."
— Jake Lazovick
"Billy was magic. He was that rare kind of New Yorker who could make this big city feel like a small town. He made everyone in his orbit feel important and loved."
— Kareem Rahma
Billy with records
Billy candid moment
Billy at the record shop

Giving everyone a shot.

Each year, we award a cohort of emerging music professionals — not just with financial support, but with a bridge into the industry through a guided, long-term mentorship network.

Direct financial support

To help cover expenses connected to beginning a career in music: relocation costs, housing, travel, equipment, or other barriers that might prevent candidates from taking critical opportunities such as internships or first jobs.

Mentorship and access

So recipients can launch their first internships, forge professional relationships, and find their footing in the music ecosystem.

Networks that endure

So that this scholarship becomes more than a one-year boost. It becomes a lasting family of support.

Billy surrounded by records

love,

  • David Jacobs
  • Sebastian Freed
  • Molly Small
  • Nicole Holland
  • Joanna Cohen