Davy Jones (musician)

2.1. Birth and Family

David Thomas Jones was born on December 30, 1945, in Longsight, Manchester, England, to Harry and Doris Jones. He was the youngest of four children, having three older sisters: Hazel, Lynda, and Beryl.

2.2. Childhood and Education

Jones's early artistic development included participation in a church choir. His mother, Doris, died from emphysema when he was 14 years old. Following this loss, Jones briefly rejected acting. He dropped out of secondary school.

2.3. Jockey Aspirations and Training

In his teenage years, Jones harbored a strong ambition to become a professional jockey. He began an apprenticeship with trainer Basil Foster in Newmarket, England. Despite Foster's belief in Jones's potential as a jockey, this career path was short-lived. A friend who worked in London's West End theatre approached Foster about a role in a stage production, leading Foster to encourage Jones to pursue acting, specifically for the role of the Artful Dodger in Oliver!. Jones later obtained a formal jockey's license and achieved his first amateur race win in 1996.

2.4. Early Acting and Musical Career

Jones's artistic journey began with early forays into acting and music. His television acting debut was in the British soap opera Coronation Street, where he appeared as Colin Lomax, the grandson of a regular character, in a single episode on March 6, 1961. He also appeared in the BBC police series Z-Cars.

His portrayal of the Artful Dodger in the London West End production of Oliver! brought him significant acclaim. He continued the role on Broadway, earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance. On February 9, 1964, Jones appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show with Georgia Brown, who played Nancy in the Broadway production of Oliver!. This particular episode was notable for also featuring The Beatles' first appearance on U.S. television. Jones later recalled watching The Beatles from backstage, observing the audience's fervent reaction, and deciding, "this is it, I want a piece of that." Around the same time, he also appeared with Georgia Brown on The Merv Griffin Show.

Following his Ed Sullivan appearance, Jones signed a contract with Ward Sylvester of Screen Gems, then the television division of Columbia Pictures. This led to further U.S. television appearances, including roles in episodes of Ben Casey and The Farmer's Daughter. Jones debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 14, 1965, with his single "What Are We Going To Do?", which peaked at number 93. The 19-year-old singer was signed to Colpix Records, a label owned by Columbia. His debut album, David Jones, was released on the same label shortly thereafter.

3.1. The Monkees

From 1966 to 1970, Jones was a member of The Monkees, a pop-rock band specifically created for a television show of the same name.

3.1.3. Band Dynamics and Dissolution

Despite their rapid rise to fame and commercial success, The Monkees experienced internal creative differences and friction with the production team. While Jones primarily handled vocals and percussion, he was a multi-instrumentalist who could fill in on bass or drums during live concerts when other members played different instruments. The band officially disbanded in 1970, though Peter Tork departed in 1968 and Michael Nesmith in 1969. Ironically, the two members who remained with "The Monkees" the longest were the actors, Jones and Micky Dolenz.

3.2. Solo Career

Jones pursued various musical endeavors outside of The Monkees, showcasing his artistic evolution through solo recordings and collaborations.

3.3. Acting and Performance

Davy Jones maintained a robust acting career throughout his life, with significant contributions to musical theatre, television, and film.

3.3.2. Television Appearances

Beyond The Monkees series, Jones made numerous guest appearances and recurring roles in various television shows. These included two episodes each of Love, American Style and My Two Dads. In 1972, he appeared as an animated version of himself in an hour-long episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies. He also had notable guest roles in Sledge Hammer!, Boy Meets World (1995), Hey Arnold! (voice role in 2002), The Single Guy (where he was mistaken for Dudley Moore), and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, in which he sang "Daydream Believer" to Sabrina Spellman (played by Melissa Joan Hart) as well as "I'll Love You Forever". In 1977, he appeared in The Wonderful World of Disney in the episode "The Bluegrass Special". Other TV credits include Horse in the House (1979), New Love, American Style (1986), ABC Afterschool Special (1991), Trainer (1991), Herman's Head (1992), and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2006). In 2009, Jones made a cameo appearance as himself in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One", a playful reference to the phrase "Davy Jones' Locker". His final television appearances included the TV movie The Dreamsters: Welcome to the Dreamery (2011) and a voice role as Nigel in Phineas and Ferb (2011).

3.4. Later Career and Continued Performance

From the 2000s until his death, Jones remained an active performer. In 2001, he released Just Me, an album featuring his own songs, some newly written and others re-recorded from earlier Monkees releases. In the early 2000s, he became a regular performer in the Flower Power Concert Series during Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival, a yearly engagement he continued until his passing.

In April 2006, Jones recorded the single "Your Personal Penguin", written by children's author Sandra Boynton, as a companion piece to her board book of the same title. He was also featured in Boynton's 2007 book and CD, Blue Moo, singing the same song. In 2007, Jones performed the theme song for the film Sexina: Popstar P.I.. In 2009, he released She, a collection of classics and standards from the 1940s through the 1970s.

In December 2008, Yahoo! Music named Jones the "Number 1 teen idol of all time", and in 2009, Fox News rated him second in a list of 10 best teen idols.

In February 2011, Jones confirmed rumors of another Monkees reunion, stating, "There's even talk of putting the Monkees back together again in the next year or so for a U.S. and UK tour." This tour, titled "An Evening with The Monkees: The 45th Anniversary Tour", ultimately took place and was Jones's final tour.

4.1. Horse Racing

Jones's profound love for horses was a significant aspect of his life. Having trained as a jockey in his teens in the UK, he initially intended to pursue a professional career in horse racing. He held an amateur rider's license and rode in his first race at Newbury in Berkshire for renowned trainer Toby Balding. On February 1, 1996, Jones achieved his first victory on a horse named Digpast in the one-mile Ontario Amateur Riders Handicap at Lingfield in Surrey.

Jones also held horse ownership interests in both the US and the UK and served as a commercial spokesman for Colonial Downs racetrack in Virginia. Following his death, Lingfield Park Racecourse honored him by renaming the first two races on their March 3, 2012, racecard the "Hey Hey We're The Monkees Handicap" and the "In Memory of Davy Jones Selling Stakes". Horses in these races were accompanied into the winners' enclosure by some of The Monkees' biggest hits. Plans were also announced to erect a plaque in his memory next to a Monkey Puzzle tree on the course.

4.2. Business Ventures

In 1967, Jones ventured into retail, opening his first store, Zilch, at 217 Thompson Street in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. The store specialized in "hip" clothing and accessories, and uniquely allowed customers to design their own garments. After The Monkees disbanded in 1970, Jones established "The Street", a New York City-style street market in Los Angeles, which cost approximately 40.00 K USD to develop. He also collaborated with musical director Doug Trevor on a one-hour ABC television special titled Pop Goes Davy Jones, which featured then-new artists The Jackson 5 and The Osmonds.

5.1. Marriages and Children

Jones was married three times and had four daughters. In December 1967, he married Dixie Linda Haines, with whom he had been living. Their relationship was initially kept private, only becoming public after the birth of their first child in October 1968. This revelation caused a significant backlash from his fans. Jones later explained in Tiger Beat magazine, "I kept my marriage a secret because I believe stars should be allowed a private life." Jones and Haines had two daughters: Talia Elizabeth Jones (born October 2, 1968) and Sarah Lee Jones (born July 3, 1971). Their marriage ended in 1975. Sarah Lee later had a son, Harry, making Jones a grandfather in 2002.

Jones married his second wife, Anita Pollinger, on January 24, 1981. They also had two daughters: Jessica Lillian Jones (born September 4, 1981) and Annabel Charlotte Jones (born June 26, 1988). The couple divorced in 1996, during The Monkees' 30th-anniversary reunion tour.

Jones married his third wife, Jessica Pacheco, in 2009. They appeared on the Dr. Phil show in April 2011. Pacheco filed for divorce from Jones in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on July 28, 2011, but dropped the suit in October of that year. They remained married until his death in February 2012. Pacheco was not included in Jones's will, which he had made prior to their marriage. His oldest daughter, named as his executrix, successfully petitioned the court to have her father's will sealed, citing that "planning documents and financial affairs as public opinion could have a material effect on his copyrights, royalties and ongoing goodwill."

6.1. Circumstances and Cause of Death

On the morning of February 29, 2012, Jones went to tend to his 14 horses at a farm in Indiantown, Florida. After riding one of his favorite horses around the track, he complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing. He was given antacid pills and got into his car to go home. Shortly after 8:00 AM, a ranch-hand found him unconscious. An ambulance was called, but Jones could not be revived. He was transported to Martin Memorial South Hospital in Stuart, Florida, where he was pronounced dead. The medical cause of death was determined to be a heart attack resulting from arteriosclerosis. He was 66 years old.

6.2. Funeral and Memorials

To allow the grieving family privacy, the three surviving Monkees did not attend a private funeral service held for Jones on March 7 at Holy Cross Catholic parish church in Indiantown. Instead, the bandmates attended memorial services in New York City and organized their own private memorial in Los Angeles with Jones's family and close friends. A public memorial service was held on March 10 in Beavertown, Pennsylvania, near a church Jones had purchased for future renovation. On March 12, a private memorial service was held in Jones's hometown of Openshaw, Manchester, at Lees Street Congregational Church, where Jones had performed as a child in church plays. His wife and daughters traveled to England to join his relatives for the service, and his ashes were temporarily placed on his parents' graves.

6.3. Reactions and Tributes

News of Jones's death led to a significant increase in Internet traffic and a dramatic surge in sales of The Monkees' music.

Michael Nesmith, The Monkees' guitarist, stated that Jones's "spirit and soul live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many, including us. I have fond memories. I wish him safe travels." In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine on March 8, 2012, Nesmith further commented, "For me, David was the Monkees. They were his band. We were just his side men."

Peter Tork, the band's bassist, offered a simple tribute: "Adios to the Manchester Cowboy." Drummer and singer Micky Dolenz told CNN, "He was the brother I never had and this leaves a gigantic hole in my heart." Dolenz also expressed that he had a premonition of something bad happening, saying, "Can't believe it.. Still in shock.. had bad dreams all night long." He was deeply moved by the public affection shown for both Jones and The Monkees following his bandmate's death, noting, "He was a very well-known and well-loved character and person. There are a lot of people who are grieving pretty hard. The Monkees obviously had a following, and so did (Jones) on his own. So I'm not surprised, but I was flattered and honored to be considered one of his friends and a cohort in Monkee business."

Bob Rafelson, co-creator of The Monkees, praised Jones, stating, "He deserves a lot of credit, let me tell you. He may not have lived as long as we wanted him to, but he survived about seven lifetimes, including being perhaps the biggest rock star of his time."

The Brady Bunch co-star Maureen McCormick described Jones as "a beautiful soul" who "spread love and goodness around the world. He filled our lives with happiness, music, and joy. He will live on in our hearts forever. May he rest in peace."

Yahoo Music commented that Jones's death "hit so many people so hard" because "Monkees nostalgia cuts across generations: from the people who discovered the band during their original 1960s run; to the kids who came of age watching 1970s reruns; to the 20- and 30-somethings who discovered the Monkees when MTV (a network that owes much to the Monkees' influence) began airing old episodes in 1986."

James Poniewozik, a contributor to Time, lauded The Monkees sitcom and Jones's role within it, saying, "even if the show never meant to be more than entertainment and a hit-single generator, we shouldn't sell The Monkees short. It was far better television than it had to be; during an era of formulaic domestic sitcoms and wacky comedies, it was a stylistically ambitious show, with a distinctive visual style, absurdist sense of humor and unusual story structure. Whatever Jones and the Monkees were meant to be, they became creative artists in their own right, and Jones' chipper Brit-pop presence was a big reason they were able to produce work that was commercial, wholesome, and yet impressively weird."

Mediaite columnist Paul Levinson highlighted The Monkees' unique impact, noting, "The Monkees were the first example of something created in a medium - in this case, a rock band on television - that jumped off the screen to have big impact in the real world."

7.1. Cultural Influence

Jones's charming demeanor, British accent, and youthful appearance made him a major teen idol, contributing significantly to the phenomenon of "Monkeemania" that captivated audiences in the 1960s and beyond. The Monkees, initially conceived as a response to the British Invasion led by The Beatles, achieved immense popularity, though they faced criticism for their manufactured origins. Despite this, Jones and the band's television show and music had a lasting impact, influencing subsequent pop culture and media. Notably, David Bowie, whose birth name was David Robert Jones, changed his stage name to avoid confusion with the already established Davy Jones.

7.2. Critical Reception and Evaluation

While The Monkees were sometimes criticized for using external musicians in their recordings, their cultural impact and the quality of their television show have been re-evaluated over time. Critics have come to appreciate the show's innovative style and the band members' eventual creative input. Jones's consistent performance across various mediums, from Broadway to television, demonstrated his versatility and enduring appeal as an entertainer. His ability to connect with audiences across generations, from the original "Monkeemania" fans to those who discovered the band through reruns and MTV, solidified his place as a beloved figure in entertainment history.

8.1. Discography

Notable contributions to soundtracks:

• The Point: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1978)
• The Brady Bunch Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1995)

8.2. Filmography

8.3. Books

• They Made a Monkee Out of Me, autobiography (print book) by Davy Jones, Dome PR, 1987. An audiobook version, They Made a Monkee Out of Me: Davy Jones Reads His Autobiography, was released in November 1988.
• Mutant Monkees Meet the Masters of the Multimedia Manipulation Machine! Written with Alan Green, Click! Publishing, First Edition, 1992. This book is a collection of his computer graphic works.
• Daydream Believin, Hercules Promotions, First Edition, 2000. This is another autobiography.