Davy Jones (musician)
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For the jazz musician, see David Jones (jazz musician). For other uses, see Davy Jones.
| Davy Jones | |
|---|---|
Davy Jones in Sydney, in 1968.
| |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Thomas Jones |
| Born | 30 December 1945 Openshaw, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK |
| Died | 29 February 2012 (aged 66) Stuart, Florida, US |
| Genres | Pop rock, pop, rock, sunshine pop, psychedelic rock, music hall |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, musician, recording artist, performing artist, businessman |
| Instruments | Vocals, tambourine, maracas, guitar, drums, bass guitar, organ |
| Years active | 1961–2012 |
| Labels | Colpix Records, Bell Records |
| Associated acts | The Monkees |
| Website | www.davyjones.net |
David Thomas "Davy" Jones (30 December 1945 – 29 February 2012) was an English singer-songwriter, musician, actor and businessman best known as one of the Monkees four man pop rock group and co-star of the TV series of the same name. His acting credits include a Tony-nominated role as the Artful Dodger in the original London and Broadway productions of Oliver! as well as a starring cameo role in a hallmark episode of The Brady Bunch television show and later reprised parody film; Love, American Style; and My Two Dads. Jones is considered one of the great teen idols.[1][2]
Contents
[hide]Early life[edit]
Davy Jones was born at 20 Leamington Street, Openshaw, Manchester, Lancashire, England, on 30 December 1945. His television acting debut was on the British television soap opera Coronation Street. He portrayed Colin Lomax, Ena Sharples' grandson, for one episode on 6 March 1961.[3][4] He also appeared in the BBC police series Z-Cars. After the death of his mother from emphysema when he was 14 years old, Jones rejected acting in favour of a career as a jockey, apprenticing with Newmarket trainer Basil Foster.[4] He dropped out of secondary school to begin his career in that field.[5] This career was short-lived however. Even though Foster believed Jones would be successful as a jockey, he encouraged his young protégé to take a role as the Artful Dodger a production of Oliver!in London's West End, a move which changed Jones' life forever. In turn, Jones cared for Foster in his later years, bringing him to the United States and providing him financial support.[6]
Early acting and recording career[edit]
Foster was approached by a friend who worked in a theatre in the West End of London during casting for the musical Oliver!. Foster replied, "I've got the kid." Jones was cast and appeared to great acclaim as the Artful Dodger.[7] He played the role in London and then on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award.[8] On 9 February 1964, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show with Georgia Brown who was playing Nancy in the Broadway production of Oliver!. This was the same episode of the show in which the Beatles made their first appearance. Jones said of that night, "I watched the Beatles from the side of the stage, I saw the girls going crazy, and I said to myself, this is it, I want a piece of that."[9]
Following his Ed Sullivan appearance, Jones signed a contract with Ward Sylvester of Screen Gems (then the television division of Columbia Pictures). A pair of American television appearances followed, as Jones received screen time in episodes of Ben Casey and The Farmer's Daughter.[10]
Jones debuted on the Hot 100 in the week of 14 August 1965, with the single "What Are We Going To Do?" The 19-year-old singer was signed to Colpix Records, a label owned by Columbia.[11] His debut album David Jones, on the same label, followed soon after (CP493).[12] In 1967 the album was issued in the UK, in mono only, on the Pye Recordslabel (NPL 18178).[13]
The Monkees[edit]
Main article: The Monkees
From 1966 to 1971, Jones was a member of the Monkees, a pop-rock group formed expressly for a television show of the same name. With Screen Gems producing the series, Jones was shortlisted for auditions, as he was the only Monkee who was signed to a deal with the studio, but still had to meet producers Bob Rafelson's and Bert Schneider's standards.[14] Jones sang lead vocals on many of the Monkees' recordings, including "I Wanna Be Free" and "Daydream Believer".[14]
The NBC television series the Monkees was popular, and remained in syndication. After the group disbanded in 1971, Jones reunited with Micky Dolenz as well as Monkees songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart in 1974 as a short-lived group called Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart.[14]
A Monkees television show marathon ("Pleasant Valley Sunday") broadcast on 23 February 1986 by MTV resulted in a wave of Monkeemania not seen since the group's heyday. Jones reunited with Dolenz and Peter Tork from 1986 to 1989 to celebrate the band's renewed success and promote the 20th anniversary of the group. A new top 20 hit, "That Was Then, This Is Now" was released (though Jones did not perform on the song) as well as an album, Pool It!.[14]
Monkees activity ceased until 1996 when Jones reunited with Dolenz, Tork and Michael Nesmith to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band. The group released a new album entitled Justus, the first album since 1967's Headquarters that featured the band members performing all instrumental duties. It was the last time all four Monkees performed together.[14]
In February 2011, Jones confirmed rumours of another Monkees reunion. "There's even talk of putting the Monkees back together again in the next year or so for a U.S. and UK tour," he told Disney's Backstage Pass newsletter. "You're always hearing all those great songs on the radio, in commercials, movies, almost everywhere."[15] The tour (Jones's last) came to fruition entitled, An Evening with The Monkees: The 45th Anniversary Tour.[16]
Post-Monkees career[edit]
In 1967, Jones opened his first store, called Zilch, at 217 Thompson Street in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. The store sold "hip" clothing and accessories and also allowed customers to design their own clothes.[citation needed]
After the Monkees officially disbanded in 1971, Jones kept himself busy by establishing a New York City-style street market in Los Angeles, called "The Street" which cost approximately $40,000.[17] He also collaborated with musical director Doug Trevor on a one-hour ABC television special entitled Pop Goes Davy Jones, which featured new artists the Jackson Five and the Osmonds.[17]
Bell Records, then having a string of hits with The Partridge Family, signed Jones to a somewhat inflexible solo record contract in 1971.[17] Jones was not allowed to choose his songs or producer, resulting in several lackluster and aimless records.[17] His second solo album, Davy Jones (1971) was notable for the song "Rainy Jane", which reached No.52 in the Billboard charts. To promote the album, Jones performed "Girl" on an episode of The Brady Bunch entitled "Getting Davy Jones".[17] Although the single sold poorly, the popularity of Jones's appearance on the show resulted in "Girl" becoming his best remembered solo hit, even though it was not included in the album. The final single, "I'll Believe In You"/"Road to Love," was poorly received.[17]
Jones also continued acting after the Monkees, either as himself or another character. He appeared in an episode of Here Come the Brides,[citation needed] as well as two episodes each of Love, American Style and My Two Dads.[17] Jones also appeared in animated form as himself in 1972 in an hour-long episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies.[17] Other television appearances include Sledge Hammer!, Boy Meets World, Hey Arnold!, The Single Guy (where he is mistaken for Dudley Moore) and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch in which he sang "Daydream Believer" to Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart).[14] In 2009, Jones made a cameo appearance as himself in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "SpongeBob vs. The Big One" (his appearance was meant to be a pun on Davy Jones' Locker).[14]
Jones also returned to theatre several times after the Monkees. He appeared in several productions of Oliver! as the Artful Dodger, and in 1989 toured the US portraying Fagin. Jones also co-starred with Micky Dolenz in Harry Nilsson's play The Point at the Mermaid Theatre, London in 1978.[17]
Despite his initial high profile after the end of the Monkees, Jones struggled to establish himself as a solo artist. Glenn A. Baker, author of Monkeemania: The True Story of the Monkees, commented in 1986 that "for an artist as versatile and confident as (Davy) Jones, the relative failure of his post-Monkees activities is puzzling. For all his cocky predictions to the press about his future plans, Davy fell into a directionless heap when left to his own devices."[17]
The continued popularity of his 1971 Brady Bunch appearance led to his being cast as himself in The Brady Bunch Movie. Jones sang his signature solo hit "Girl", with a grungeband providing backing,[14] this time with middle-aged women swooning over him.[14] Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork also appeared alongside Jones as judges.[14]
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In 2001, Jones released Just Me, an album of his own songs, some written for the album and others originally on Monkees releases.[18] In the early 2000s he was performing in the Flower Power Concert Series during Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival, a yearly gig he would continue until his death.[19][20]
In April 2006, Jones recorded the single "Your Personal Penguin",[21] written by children's author Sandra Boynton, as a companion piece to her new board book of the same title.[22] On 1 November 2007, the Boynton book and CD titled Blue Moo was released and Jones is featured in both the book and CD, singing "Your Personal Penguin". In 2009, Jones released a collection of classics and standards from the 1940s through the 1970s entitled She.
In December 2008, Yahoo! Music named Jones the "Number 1 teen idol of all time".[1] In 2009, Jones was rated second in a list of 10 best teen idols compiled by Fox News.[23]
Personal life[edit]
Family life[edit]
Jones was married three times. In December 1968 he married Dixie Linda Haines, with whom he had been living. Their relationship had been kept out of the public eye until after the birth of their first child in October 1968; when it was finally made public, it caused a considerable backlash for Jones from his fans. Jones later stated, in Tiger Beat magazine, "I kept my marriage a secret because I believe stars should be allowed a private life."[17] Jones and Haines had two daughters: Talia Elizabeth (born 2 October 1968) and Sarah Lee (born 3 July 1971). The marriage ended in 1975.[24]
Jones married his second wife, Anita Pollinger, on 24 January 1981, and also had two daughters with her: Jessica Lillian (born 4 September 1981) and Annabel Charlotte (born 26 June 1988). They divorced in 1996, during the Monkees' 30th Anniversary reunion tour.[24] Jones married for a third time, on 30 August 2009, to Jessica Pacheco, 32 years his junior.[citation needed] This was Pacheco's third marriage as well.[citation needed] On 28 July 2011, Pacheco filed to divorce Jones in Miami-Dade County, Florida, but dropped the suit in October.[citation needed] They were still married when he died in February 2012. Pacheco was omitted from Jones's will, which he made before their marriage. His oldest daughter, Talia, whom he named his executor, was granted by the court the unusual request that her father's will be sealed, on the basis that "planning documents and financial affairs as public opinion could have a material effect on his copyrights, royalties and ongoing goodwill."[25]
Horse racing[edit]
In addition to his career as an entertainer, Jones' other first love was horses. Training as a jockey in his teens, Jones later said, "I made one huge mistake. When the Monkees finished in 1969–70, I should have got away from Hollywood and got back into the racing game. Instead I waited another 10 years. Everyone makes mistakes in life and for me that was the biggest."[26] He held an amateur rider's licence and rode in his first race at Newbury in Berkshire, England for trainer Toby Balding.
On 1 February 1996, he won his first race, on Digpast, in the one-mile Ontario Amateur Riders Handicap at Lingfield in Surrey.[26] Jones also had horse ownership interests in both the U.S. and the U.K., and served as a commercial spokesman for Colonial Downs racetrack in Virginia.[27] In tribute to Jones, Lingfield Park announced that the first two races on the card for 3 March 2012 would be renamed the "Hey Hey We're The Monkees Handicap" and the "In Memory of Davy Jones Selling Stakes" with successful horses in those races accompanied into the Winners' Enclosure by some of the Monkees' biggest hits. Plans were also announced to erect a plaque to commemorate Jones next to a Monkey Puzzle tree on the course.[28]
Death[edit]
His talent will be much missed; his gifts will be with us always. 'Adios, to the Manchester Cowboy.'
“
”
— Peter Tork.[29]
On the morning of 29 February 2012, Jones went to tend his 14 horses at a farm in Indiantown, Florida. After riding one of his favourite horses around the track, he complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing and was rushed to Martin Memorial South Hospital in Stuart, Florida, where he was pronounced dead of a severe heart attack due to atherosclerosis.[30][31][32]
On Wednesday, 7 March 2012, a private funeral service was held at Holy Cross Catholic parish in Indiantown, Florida. The three surviving Monkees did not attend in order not to draw more attention to the grieving family.[33] Instead, the group attended memorial services in New York City as well as organising their own private memorial in Los Angeles along with David's family and close friends. Additionally, a public memorial service was held on 10 March 2012 in Beavertown, Pennsylvania, near a church Jones had purchased for future renovation.[34]
On Monday 12 March, a private memorial service was held in Openshaw, Manchester at Lees Street Congregational Church where Jones performed as a child in church plays.[35] Jones' wife and daughters travelled to Britain to join his British-based relatives for the service, and also placed his ashes on his parents graves for a little while.[35]
Film and television[edit]
Discography[edit]
Main article: Davy Jones discography
See also: The Monkees discography
Albums[edit]
| Date | Label/Catalogue # | Titles | BillboardTop Albums | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Colpix CP-493 (mono) / Colpix SCP-493 (stereo) | David Jones | (US) Credited as "David Jones" | |
| 1967 | Pye NPL 18178 (mono) | David Jones | (UK) Credited as "David Jones" | |
| June 1971 | Bell 6067 | Davy Jones | ||
| January 1978 | MCA MCF2826 | The Point | Jones sings most of the songs on this original cast recording of Harry Nilsson's stage performance of "The Point!". Album was initially released in Britain only, followed by a release in Japan. | |
| June 1981 | Japan JAL-1003 | Davy Jones Live | Released in Japan only. | |
| March 1982 | Pioneer K-10025 | Hello Davy (Davy Jones Live) | Released in Japan only. According to some sources, this is an unauthorised LP release, with the audio having been lifted from the Japanese-released LaserDisc of this concert. |
- Jones recorded the album "Christmas Jones" in 1976.
- In 1972, Jones sang "I Can Make You Happy" on Ep 13 of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, "The Haunted Horseman of Hagglethorn Hall". The song appears on the compilation CD Scooby-Doo's Snack Tracks: The Ultimate Collection.
Singles[edit]
| Date | Label/Catalog # | Titles (A-side/B-side) | US Hot 100 | US Cashbox | AU | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1965 | Colpix CP-764 | "Dream Girl" / "Take Me to Paradise" | Credited as "David Jones"[36] | |||
| July 1965 | Colpix CP-784 | "What Are We Going to Do?" / "This Bouquet" | Credited as "Mr. David Jones"[37] | |||
| October 1965 | Colpix CP-793 | "The Girl from Chelsea" / "Theme for a New Love" | Credited as "David Jones" | |||
| 1967 | Pye 7N.17302 | "It Ain't Me Babe" / "Baby It's Me" | Credited as "Davy Jones" | |||
| May 1971 | Bell 986 | "Do It in the Name of Love" / "Lady Jane" | By Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. Released as by "the Monkees" in some countries, this is technically the group's last single during their original run, although by then they had lost the rights to the name. | |||
| June 1971 | Bell 45–111 | "Rainy Jane" / "Welcome to My Love" | ||||
| October 1971 | Bell 45–136 | "I Really Love You" / "Sittin' in the Apple Tree" | ||||
| November 1971 | Bell 45–159 | "Girl" / "Take My Love" | A-side featured in The Brady Bunch episode "Getting Davy Jones". | |||
| January 1972 | Bell 45–178 | "I'll Believe in You" / "Road to Love" | ||||
| 1972 | MGM K14458 | "Who Was It?" / "Your A Lady" | ||||
| 1973 | MGM K14524 | "Rubberene" / "Rubberene" | This single was released as a promotional copy only. | |||
| May 1978 | Warner Brothers 17161 | "(Hey Ra Ra Ra) Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse" / "You Don't Have to Be a Country Boy to Sing a Country Song" | Issued in Britain only to commemorate Mickey Mouse's 50th Birthday | |||
| May 1981 | Japan JAS-2007 | "It's Now" / "How Do You Know" | Released in Japan only. | |||
| June 1981 | Japan JAS-2010 | "Dance Gypsy" / "Can She Do It (Like She Dances)" | Released in Japan only (on 25 June 1981). "Dance Gypsy" (a.k.a. "Dance Gypsy Dance") written by Reiko Yukawa. | |||
| March 1982 | Pioneer K-1517 | "Sixteen (Baby, You'll Soon Be Sixteen)" / "Baby Holdout" | Released in Japan only. A-side recorded in 1981; B-side recorded in 1979. Source is the booklets for the CD set "Just for the Record". | |||
| December 1984 | JJ-2001 | "I'll Love You Forever" / "When I Look Back on Christmas" | Released in Britain only. A-side recorded in 1979; B-side recorded in 1976. | |||
| 1987 | Powderworks 374 | "After Your Heart" / "Hippy Hippy Shake" | Released in Australia only. A-side recorded in October 1981; B-side recorded in 1987. |
- Jones recorded a version of "You're A Lady" in Japanese on a Japan MGM single in 1972 (source: "You're A Lady", MGM Japanese album, by Dolenz and Jones, booklet).
- Jones and Micky Dolenz also released a 45 from "The Point" in 1978 on MCA in the U.K., featuring "Life Line", "It's A Jungle Out There", and "Gotta Get Up".
- Jones sings on the Jan & Dean 1968 Warner Brothers single "In The Still Of The Night".
- Jones recorded "Rainbows" on the "Monkees Relived" single in 1971. The flip-side was "Steam Engine" by the Monkees.
- As part of "Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart", he recorded 2 singles for Capitol in 1975: "I Remember The Feeling" and "I Love You And I'm Glad That I Said It".
- Jones recorded "White Christmas" on a 1976 Christmas single. The flip-side was "Christmas Is My Time Of Year" by Dolenz, Jones & Tork.
- In all, Jones recorded 24 non-Monkees singles between 1965-1981. (Source for this and the last 5 notes is the 'discography' section of the Glenn A Baker book "Monkeemania", pages 139-141).
Books[edit]
- They Made a Monkee Out of Me, autobiography (print book) by Davy Jones, Dome PR, 1987, ISBN 978-0-9618614-0-7.
- They Made a Monkee Out of Me: Davy Jones Reads His Autobiography, (audiobook), Dove Entertainment Inc (November 1988).
- Daydream Believin, Hercules Promotions, First Edition, ISBN 0-9618614-1-X (2000)
"Mutant Monkees Meet the Masters of the Multi-Media Manipulation Machine!" [Paperback] Samuel French Trade (June 1992) ISBN 978-0-9631235-0-3
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