Beloved Local Blues Performer, “White Noise” Jones, Dead at 103

 

The Daily Flyleaf, 9/3/2025

 

By Rupert Pinstripe

 

Beloved Ann Arbor blues musician “White Noise” Jones died today at the ripe old age of 103. A guitarist, singer, and songwriter, “White Noise” was known for writing many locally popular originals such as “My Muffin’s Got a Hole In It,” “I Cried a Blue Thousand Miles,” “Sour Milk Serenade,” and “Funky Mule Two-Step.” But local blues legend Jones is best remembered not for his performance of any of these songs, but rather for the unique sounds which gave him his name: every single performance by Jones produced only the static sound of white noise.

 

Jones fascinated onlookers, medicinal professionals, and scientists alike, as his performances appeared visually typical and even appeared to be (based on visual analysis of his finger and mouth movements) performances of blues standards, yet the only sound ever heard emanating from him was white noise. No matter the variations in his playing or singing, only white noise was ever heard. While various efforts were made by professionals in various scientific communities to study and explain this phenomenon, no cause has ever been determined.

 

Despite the peculiarity of “White Noise” Jones’s particular brand of music, the artist himself (who liked to be called a “blues-man and gee-tartist”) never offered any explanation of his unique sound, nor did he seem particularly aware of it. When questioned directly, he implied he had no idea what was being referred to. His typical response was simply that he “liked to play [his] music. Words know to be spoken, and when. You can’t choose it. Magic knows its own way, and you are the road. You’re lucky when it travels ya.”

 

In later years, Mr. Jones’ began emitting white noise constantly, rendering him incapable of standard communication via speech.

 

A tribute concert is being organized at the Kutchar Ballroom in the Catalan Mélange restaurant, featuring covers of his songs as well as, of course, lots of white noise. Condolences have come from far and wide, from local musicians like Dog Stephens, who said “White Noise knew the real word,” to internationally renowned noise artist Blasé, who said “I still hear him. I will, always.” Local television show host and personality Jeremy Kellerman said of Jones “he was one of the greatest guests to ever appear on The Jeremy Kellerman Advice Hour. After hearing him play, I could not stop smiling for two weeks straight. The hospital bill was worth it. Rest in peace, Mr. Lowe [sic].”

 

Flowers may be sent to Danson and Sons Funeral Home in Ann Arbor.

 

UPDATE:

 

Danson and Sons Funeral Home has requested that no more flowers be sent, as, hours after burial, Mr. Jones’s corpse apparently exploded, scattering flowers all over the cemetery. Volunteers are requested for cleanup once the cause has been ascertained and safety is assured. Authorities know of no prior incidents of the spontaneous combustion of a corpse. Please wear thick clothing.

“Mentally Ill Woman Escapes Police Custody” The Daily Flyleaf, 6/11/1996

“Mentally Ill Woman Escapes Police Custody”

 

Originally published in

“The Daily Flyleaf”

 

June 11^th, 1996

 

“Ann Arbor, Michigan –

 

Ann Arbor Police Chief Darren McAvoy reported a highly unusual situation in their holding cells on June 7^th, when a woman who was apparently mentally unbalanced managed to escape temporary confinement under mysterious circumstances.

 

The woman, believed to be homeless, was found in a disheveled state on June 6^th on Windmill Way, near the scene of the fatal crash that killed beloved Daily Flyleaf reporter Victoria Kellerman. Initially questioned as a witness in the investigation of the tragic incident, the woman, identifying herself as Stefanie Gunderson, was helpful before “babbling a lot of nonsense” according to Chief McAvoy. Before she was taken into police custody, “Gunderson” reportedly began repeating the chorus of the song “Once in a Lifetime” by hit 1980s band Talking Heads.

 

She was held overnight, as she was considered a danger to herself or others, while potential caregivers were sought. No family could be identified. The woman calling herself Stefanie Gunderson had an Ann Arbor, Michigan driver’s license bearing the name given; however, the license was determined to be fraudulent as it bore an issue date nearly thirty years in the future. In addition to the fraudulent license, the so-called Stefanie Gunderson was also in possession of a strange, apparently inactive electronic device bearing a logo similar to that of Apple Computers. The woman displayed extreme agitation when the device was confiscated, McAvoy said, repeatedly stating that the device needed to be charged.

 

While locked in a secure cell overnight, the woman calling herself Stefanie Gunderson apparently vanished between guard checks at midnight and 1 AM. Her cell was still locked, and the sole exit from the holding cells had remained under close watch all night. No sign of forced entry or exit from the building was found. Chief MvAvoy is asking anyone with information on this most unusual incident, or information on the whereabouts or background of the escaped woman, to please come forward. The woman is described as being in her early 30s, slightly overweight, with brown hair worn in a ponytail and dark circles under her eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, white running shoes with velcro fastenings, black leggings, and a t-shirt featuring an image of a green dog character yelling the word “tacos.”

 

In a strange twist to this already strange story, the unusual black rectangular device confiscated from the woman also went missing, even though it was stored securely in an evidence locker. It was replaced by an early 1970s replica of a black rotary telephone of a type commonly used decades earlier, with a tag indicating it was the property of Jeremy Kellerman, widower of the late Victoria Kellerman. The telephone was returned to Mr. Kellerman, who was at a loss to explain the mystery.