Q172 Summary

Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.

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FBI Catalogue           Miscellaneous

FBI preliminary tape identification note:Labeled in part “10/30/78 Entertainment”

Date cues on tape:     Tape contents consistent with label

People named:

Jonestown residents, full name unknown:

Greg [could be Greg Watkins]
Jimmy

Jonestown residents:

“Jonestown’s Moms Mabley” [likely Bertha Cook]
Julius Evans (sings)
Lew Jones
Ollie Smith (sings)
Diane Wilkerson

Bible verses cited:     None

Summary:

The Jonestown Express performs a dozen songs, and “Jonestown’s Moms Mabley” – an older black woman with a set of raunchy jokes – offers an evening’s entertainment to the residents of Jonestown. The music consists principally of popular R&B songs by Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, and the Jackson 5, although one or two may be original compositions.

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 5/30/79

In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.

On May 24, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B68-23. This tape was found to contain the following:

A recording of an entertainment session in Guyana.

Differences with FBI Summary:

The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.     

Tape originally posted January 2019.