If there is any special place in the world for the likes of Howard Jones, it would be Salt Lake City.
"I love it there," said the keyboardist/singer-songwriter during a phone call from Britain. "I've had so many moments there, and each time things have been wonderful."And Howard Jones is coming to the area again. On Saturday, July 18, HoJo will play the Canyons. Opening act is Moonpools & Caterpillars, featuring Bountiful native Kimi Ward-Encarnacion.
The Utah fans love Jones, too. He has sold out numerous shows and makes in-store appearances all over the valley. During the X-96 Big BASH in 1995, Jones played an acoustic set that silenced the audience. That led to his next sold-out appearance in Salt Lake City, a year later, at the Huntsman Cen-ter.
"There is so much support over there," he said. "So, I've got a soft spot for the city."
Jones' new album is called "People," a name he says pays tribute to his fans - in Utah and all over the world. In fact, the cover features pictures that fans had sent to him over the years.
"Pop music is an important part of our culture," Jones said. "Since there is so much gloomy music out today. Face it, it's easy to be like that. But I like to think that my lyrics touch people in an uplifting way. I want to uplift my fans.
"It's harder to write songs like that," Jones explained. "Bob Marley did it. He tackled a lot of political themes in his music, but he always wrote in a celebratory style. Music is one of those mediums where we can actually feel real joy."
Music has always been a place of sanctuary for Jones. As a child, he took classical piano lessons. His mother listened to pop music, and his father bought him a transistor radio.
"I used to listen to that radio all the time," Jones remembered. "It was the biggest part of my life. I even used to fall asleep with the earpiece in."
Among the musicians that caught Jones' ear were Blood, Sweat & Tears and Steely Dan. But Jones also got into some more traditional sounds.
"My parents are Welsh," he said. "We had hymns and Celtic music in the home as well."
Jones hit it big in the mid-'80s with the singles "Things Can Only Get Better," "Life In One Day," "Everlasting Love" and "No One Is to Blame," among others.
By the time the '90s came around, Jones took a two-year sabbatical and returned with an album called "In the Running." The album spawned the Top 40 hit "Lift Me Up."
"I completed my major record deal in 1991," Jones said. "It was a turning point for me. I had to take the initiative and start doing things myself. And that was a risk."
But risks, said Jones, are what make his job exciting and fresh.
"There's always something new coming along," he said. "That's why I wanted to take control of all my endeavors."
Jones formed his own method of creating records. He took charge of the songwriting, the production, the videos and the artwork.
"I think being a musician comes with some responsibilities," Jones said. "I feel I owe my fans something. I can't picture myself sitting back watching TV because some radio station is playing my songs. I need to keep things moving for my fans. And the byproduct of that is that things keep moving for me. I mean, I've illustrated it in my songs, but life needs to be an adventure."
In 1996, Jones released "Live Acoustic In America," which was recorded during his 1995 tour. The tour featured him and longtime percussionist Carol Steele.
This year's tour doesn't include Steele, but Kevin Wilkinson on drums, Nick Beggs on bass and Robin Bold on guitar. Wilkinson was in China Crisis and Beggs was a member of Kajagoogoo.
"We kind of resemble the Blind Faith of the '90s," Jones joked.
The next journey Jones will embark on is a tour with the reformed Culture Club next month.
"I have no idea what it's going to be like," Jones said. "But I do know I've only got 45 minutes. In Utah, however, I'm headlining. So you'll get the whole show."