In newest alliance, Booker T turns to rock

Three lessons can be learned from Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Booker T. Jones. Be true to your heart, change with the times and get an education.

The multi-instrumentalist’s dedication to his craft pays off with the upcoming release of “Potato Hole,” his first album in two decades. Jones collaborated on the album with Athens-based Drive-by-Truckers and guitar legend Neil Young. Jones’ career is rooted in collaborations that leap from music greats such as Otis Redding to Carlos Santana to Willie Nelson. In the 1960s, Booker T and the MGs’ instrumental soul helped define Stax Records and what came to be known as the Memphis sound.

With the release of “Potato Hole” on April 21, Jones, 64, shifts from his blues and R&B roots to rock ‘n’ roll. The term “Potato Hole” often refers to a hole slaves dug in the floor of their homes to keep food cool. Jones says his new album is the place where he has deposited his cool stuff.

Q: How was your love for rock ‘n’ roll born?

A: I moved to California in 1970 and met Stephen Stills and Neil Young. I got exposed to some styles. I wanted to play rock ‘n’ roll. It wasn’t the right time, but it is now. This album has a lot of new ideas and some that have been simmering in my consciousness for a while.

Q: What inspired you to do a rendition of Outlast’s “Hey Ya!”?

A: I’ve always liked that band. They push the limit. It was just a fun song for me to do.

Q: What made you take college courses a few years ago to bring yourself up to date on music technology?

A: I come from a world in music [production] where we just had tape rolling and we’d just sit down with everyone in the same room and record a song. A few years ago, I was supposed to produce and record a song with Willie Nelson. I walked in and looked at the big monitors and I couldn’t really direct the recording session. I didn’t know what to do. I realized then that I had to get up to date. With that came creative freedom. I began to have the ideas.

Q: You studied music theory in college for similar reasons?

A: The fact that we got a hit record [“Green Onions”] in 1962 got me enough money to go to college. I didn’t know how to write music when I left high school. I didn’t know how to play things that I was hearing in my mind.

Q: What has been one of the most rewarding collaborations in your career?

A: Collaborating with Otis Redding, because we mixed our music with so much emotion. He wasn’t singing to make a living. He was singing for the love of it. All of us with him were playing for the same reason. We just became a unit.

IN CONCERT

Booker T. Jones and the Drive-by-Truckers perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday. $25-$27.50. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave., Little Five Points. 404-524-7354 or 404-249-6400, www.variety-playhouse.com.