the monkees

The Monkees lead Davy Jones tributes

1 March 2012 Last updated at 07:09 ET Share this page The Monkees' hits included Daydream Believer and I'm a Believer

Davy Jones' Monkees bandmates have led the tributes to their "long-time friend and fellow-adventurer" after the British singer died aged 66 in Florida.

Guitarist Mike Nesmith said in a statement that Jones' "spirit and soul live well in my heart among all the lovely people". Bassist Peter Tork said: "Adios to the Manchester Cowboy."

Drummer/singer Mickey Dolenz, speaking to CNN, said the band had left a tour last year "on a huge high note".

The band had huge success in the 1960s.

Manchester-born Jones died in his sleep from a heart attack at his home in Florida, his publicist told the BBC. he was taken to a hospital where staff were unable to resuscitate him.

Three of The Monkees performed a tour last year

The Martin County Sheriff's Office said he had complained of breathing troubles early on Wednesday morning.

Dolenz added: "he was the brother I never had and this leaves a gigantic hole in my heart".

Nesmith said he remembered "the healing times that were created for so many including us".

"I have fond memories. I wish him safe travels."

Tork, in his statement, said: "it is with great sadness that I reflect on the sudden passing of my long-time friend and fellow-adventurer, David Jones.

"His talent will be much missed. His gifts will be with us always."

Jones' eldest sister, Hazel Wilkinson, told BBC Radio Lancashire that Jones "was always playing the monkey right from being born".

She said he had recently been on a cruise with his daughter and grandson.

"he was on the I'm in a Boy Band programme on BBC Two at the weekend and everyone was telling me how well he looked," she added.

"he was the youngest member of the family, he was fit and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with him."

The Monkees, often described as the first manufactured pop band, were brought together for a US TV series in 1966 and were marketed as the American answer to The Beatles.

The TV show was popular in both the US and the UK, and the band had four number one albums in America within a 13-month period – as well as nine top 20 hits, including I'm a Believer and Daydream Believer – on which Jones sang lead vocals.

Three of the band's original members – Jones, Dolenz and Tork – reunited together last year to play a series of gigs.

David Thomas Jones was born in 1945 to a railway fitter and a housewife in Manchester and began his career early, appearing on soap opera Coronation Street aged 15, playing Ena Sharples' grandson.

But when his mother died of emphysema in 1960, he left showbusiness to train as a jockey.

Basil Foster, the jockey who acted as his mentor, noticed Jones' skill as a performer and encouraged him to pursue his acting career. he soon had a role in the television police series Z Cars.

A role in the West End production of Oliver! followed and after it transferred to Broadway, he built up a career as an actor and singer before auditioning for The Monkees.

Jones said he had been inspired to pursue music by the Beatles' performance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964.

"I thought, 'I want to do that, I want all those girls screaming for me,'" he remembered.

"you know, I'd thought I was doing well with 10, 15 people outside the stage door."

Other figures from the music world to have paid tribute include The Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr – speaking at the NME Awards – who said people would talk about Jones' legacy.

"There are a lot of musicians who have passed away who people don't remember.

"and he was from Manchester as well and he looked good and had good hair."

And The Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson said The Monkees were "just some guys having fun".

He added: "I think there's something infectious about guys looking like that and having fun. The tunes, you can't argue with them."

Music journalist Paul Gambaccini hailed Jones' "phenomenal" charisma.

"The pop world at that time loved The Beatles and that north-western English sound was something that America wanted, when they put together the so-called Pre-Fab Four," he said, referring to the nickname given to The Monkees.

He said the idea of the music industry putting together a band was previously unheard of.

"There had been individual teen idols who had been literally picked up off the street and groomed to be pop stars, but there had never been a band that was put together."

They had been assembled because two producers had enjoyed Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night, he added.

The Monkees TV show originally ran from September 1966 to March 1968

Radio presenter Dave Lee Travis said: "One of the things that people will probably be thinking about Davy Jones is the fact that he was 66.

"he always looked like a little kid. I think even in his latter years he looked very, very young."

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon said: "I used to love the Monkees."

He noted that, while many of the musicians of that era "seemed to say goodbye early", Jones was "a bit more of a clean-living chap".

"It's very sad," he added.

Jones is survived by his third wife Jessica, his four daughters, Talia Jones, Sarah McFadden, Jessica Cramer and Annabel Jones, and three grandchildren, Harrison and Lauren McFadden and Phoenix Burrows.

Dave the Funky Monkey Will Be 2010′s Hottest Toy

Dave the Funky Monkey will definitely be one of the best selling toys this Christmas He is a cute toy robot monkey that can be perched on your shoulder, and thanks to some very advanced animatronic technology and a tiny remote control, he can interact very realistically with your friends and family or even random passers-by He will definitely bring a smile to the face of every one he meets

So, what makes Dave the Funky Monkey so special? He is very lifelike and designed to look indistinguishable from an actual spider monkey He has black fur with white patches and the cutest little white face but there is much more to him than good looks He also features a specially designed shoulder strap which allows him to be perched on your shoulder at all times Thanks to the specially designed remote control, it’s also extremely easy and simple to operate and make him do all the funny things he can do This is made possible thanks to the state of the art animatronics built into him, that allow him complete freedom of movement and give him the ability to preform all sorts of very realistic movements and actions that will certainly surprise in a very pleasant way anyone who sees him

Dave the Funky Monkey, can be operated by using a tiny wireless remote control unit that features a selection of buttons for each of Dave’s four play modes which include Conversation, Greeting, Puppet and Action Mode by using this remote, you can make him perform a wide range of realistic movements and sounds that will make him look like a real, live monkey His crazy antics will surely turn a lot of heads

Dave the Funky Monkey is the best robotic toy for children and adults alike Just think of all the fun you can have with Dave by playing pranks on people in your office or even on the road or on the bus He’s also a very affordable toy, he is sold in the UK for just 25, which will definitely make him one of the most sought after toys this Christmas Make sure you buy your Dave toy as early as possible, before the stocks run out

Remembering the Monkees

If you grew up in the 1960s, then you would have heard of the Monkees and their distinctive music and style. if you didn’t grow up in that era, then there is still a good chance that you have heard some of their hit songs either on TV, movies or another medium. whatever the case, the Monkees’ impact on music and the record industry was profound and the ripples are still being felt today.

One of the unique aspects of the Monkees was how the band originated. it wasn’t like most bands from the 1960s who at one time or another met up to eventually form a group. instead, the Monkees originated from an idea to create fictional band for a TV show. two American filmmakers were inspired by the Beatles movie A Hard Day’s Night to move ahead and make the concept a reality. As a result, they put an advertisement in a newspaper to attract people to the audition. Eventually, they chose 4 people to become members of a fictional band called the Monkees.

The new group then got assistance and training from songwriters and musicians to learn to function as a band before the first show would get underway. their first single last Train To Clarksville and their first album titled simply the Monkees shot to number 1 on the charts. Soon enough, the success of the TV show and the music meant that there was pressure for them to develop as a live act and go touring. Eventually as they toured, Monkeemania developed (a variation of the word Beatlemania) into a frenzy and because of that, the band members wanted to take more creative control over their music.

This led to a bitter separation from their musical coordinator who did not let them play their own instruments or use their own material. nevertheless, the group continued to have big hits such as I’m A Believer and Daydream Believer in 1967 and which can still be heard on radio stations around the world. in total, the first four albums from the group went straight to number 1, a feat which has never been emulated since.

Despite their enormous success in such a short period of time, the popularity of the Monkees started to dip in 1968 and by 1969, they were cancelling shows due to poor ticket sales. by 1970, the group has disbanded and the end of the Monkees was confirmed.

Overall, the Monkees represented the first case of TV manufacturing a pop group and which has intensified in the 21st century. however, their outstanding success also demonstrated that they were more than just a TV band and that their music would live on.

Monkees star Davy Jones dies at 66

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

Singer Davy Jones of The Monkees has died of a heart attack at 66, the medical examiner’s office in Martin County, Fla., has confirmed to NBC News.

A statement issued by the medical examiner’s office says that Jones complained Wednesday morning that he wasn’t feeling well and was having trouble breathing. he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No suspicious circumstances surrounded his death, and his family has been notified. he is survived by his wife, Jessica, and four daughters.

The news was originally reported by TMZ.

Jones was most famous for his role in the pop group The Monkees, which was put together in 1965 for the TV show of the same name. With such hits as “Daydream Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer,” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” and the “Monkees” theme song, the group sold more than 50 million records.

In 2008, Yahoo Music named Jones the top teen idol of all time.

After “The Monkees” disbanded in 1971, Jones sang solo as well as with various reincarnations of the group.

He also acted on stage and screen, with his most famous TV appearance as himself on “The Brady Bunch,” in an episode where Marcia Brady was the president of his fan club and tried to get the singer to appear at her school dance. he also starred in “Oliver!” on Broadway.

Recently, he played himself on an episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

He released his final album in 2009.

As recently as June of 2011, Jones told The Palm Beach Post that after a routine stress test, a doctor said he had the heart of a 25-year-old. “The doctor says my heart’s so good, the door’s open to do any kind of exercise I want,” he told the paper.

On Jones’ Facebook page, fellow Monkees weighed in. “David’s spirit and soul live well in my heart,” wrote Michael Nesmith, ”Among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times.”

And Micky Dolenz wrote, “Can’t believe it … still in shock … had bad dreams all night long. My love and prayers go out to Davy’s girls and family right now.”

Last summer, Al Roker of TODAY interviewed Jones and fellow bandmates Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz as the band, minus Michael Nesmith, prepared to tour. that tour was later canceled due to internal conflict.

In that interview, Jones joked to Roker “(Fans) used to throw their little briefs and things like that, and now they’re throwing Depends.”

Jones also poked fun at himself in a way that now seems tragic. “He used to be a heartthrob,” joked bandmate Peter Tork in the interview. “And now I’m a coronary,” said Jones with a laugh.

Upon hearing of Jones’ death, Roker tweeted, “A little bit of my youth just died.” The TODAY anchor had joined Jones, Tork and Nesmith to perform “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer.”

Other musicians and fans also took to Twitter to mourn Jones. “Damn, Davy Jones is gone,” wrote Questlove of The Roots. “I loved The Monkees.”

British fan Daniel Parker wrote, “Just heard the sad, sad news. R.I.P. Davy Jones. you were the greatest daydream believer.”

And writer Tony Parsons spoke for many fans when he tweeted, “Those of us who were kids with The Monkees loved you and never dreamed we were not meant to take you seriously.”

‘Daydream Believer’

‘I’m a Believer’

‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’

‘Last Train to Clarksville’

‘Monkees’ theme song

What’s your favorite memory of Davy Jones? take our poll, and tell us on Facebook. 

{“contentId”:”10540912″,”totalVotes”:”93562″}What’s your favorite Monkees song?

Related content:

• Meeting Davy Jones made her a Daydream Believer
• Slideshow: Davy Jones through the years
• Video: Al Roker performs with The Monkees

The Music of the 60′s – Who Wrote the Songs?

Four singer-songwriters and one record producer seemed to dominate the 60′s music scene. Phil Spector, the record producer, became very successful (and wealthy) with his many ideas for getting hit records out on his record labels.

Spector became widely known for his bizarre behavior and eventually killed a woman in his own home. he is now serving a 19 year prison sentence. he always came across as a spook to me but the guy was a music production genius.

Bob Dylan ended up writing more songs for others than he did for himself. he created music for the Byrds, Mannfred Mann, Peter Paul and Mary, Sonnie and Cher, the Hollies, and the Turtles. his music inspired many other groups as well.

Neil Sedaka also had a string of his own hits and, at the same time, wrote several big hits for several music groups and singers. Sedaka produced for Connie Francis, the Monkees, Frankie Valli and the four Seasons, and the Fifth Dimension. Sedaka is, by the way, a trained classical pianist.

The great Neil Diamond wrote many, many songs for others before he started his own singing career. Diamond, a high school classmate of Barbra Streisand, produced music for Jay and the Americans, the Monkees, Elvis Presley, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Deep Purple, Lulu, and Cliff Richards.

But the champion song writer of the 60′s, in my mind, had to be Carole King. Carole not only wrote or collaborated on hundreds of songs from the 60′s, she also found singing talent and got several groups started in the music business.

Would you believe that Little Eva (Locomotion) was Carole’s baby sitter? Carole King made music for the Drifters, Bobby Vee, Ben E. King, Tony Orlando, Gene Pitney, Steve Lawrence, The Everly Brothers, Skeeter Davis, the Chiffons, the Animals, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, and the Byrds (among others).

How’s that for production? These people did so much and now forty some years later they still have an impact because they still write.

Dr. Mary’s Monkey – The Truth About Cancer

You may not be able to change things much, but you will not be able to change anything at all, unless you know the facts behind the influences in your life, and the lives of your children. Read Dr. Mary’s Monkey, by Edward T. Haslam.

Prior to 1955 the disease called Polio was a curse on the world, crippling and killing many people, mostly children. after 1955 a workable vaccine was developed, and children were vaccinated against this terrible disease at an early age.

Unfortunately, this polio vaccine was initially grown on the kidneys of monkeys, and it was not until a few years after the polio vaccine was invented that the first cancer-causing monkey virus was detected; to the horror of all involved it soon became evident that there were multiple cancer-causing monkey viruses tainting the new polio vaccines. This caused the medical establishment to begin looking for cancer cures right away, which were going to be needed once the recipients of the polio vaccines came of age. Richard Nixon declared war on cancer and huge funds were made available to combat what was expected to be a future cancer epidemic.

During this time several of the new polio vaccines were removed from the market because of tainting with cancer-causing monkey viruses, though very little mention was made of the problem in the media. Albert Sabin, developer of the first working polio vaccine, was quoted thus, concerning the tainted vaccines and the need to keep it mum:

.Theres too much scaring the public unnecessarily. Oh your children were injected with a cancer virus and all that. thats not very good

Regardless of what was said at the time though, the cancer epidemic that was perceived and expected way back when has now become a reality. the figures of cancer increases in the last 50+ years bear all this out, which means that 50 years after this virally tainted vaccine was used, soft tissue cancers are indeed epidemic, with over one million (And counting) new cases reported each year. Consider the fact that prior to 1955, or earlier, many of these cancers were virtually UNKNOWN, and one begins to see some truth, however disconcerting.

Even more unfortunate than all that bad news is this: once the cancer causing monkey viruses were discovered via the polio vaccine, they then became objects of study by weapons makers, not least of who were involved in a vendetta against the Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Great efforts were made by many people in the government and the medical industry in new Orleans, Louisiana, to mutate these cancer causing monkey viruses with radiation, so that they could be used as a weapon against Castro. their efforts paid off big and fast, with one subject, a federal prisoner who had volunteered for the experiment, being killed in 28 days the prisoner of course had not been told the test was fatal.

Some of these weapons are now on the loose as well. according to the Center for Disease Control, ten of the top twelve bioterror agents used in modern warfare manifest as skin cancers, or other incurable and deadly soft tissue cancers Cancer has been weaponised, and that fact has been hidden well. It is time to wake up. Time to smell the pork.

Among the players in this bio-charade and soap opera of disease were many high power medical names, including one of the worlds top specialists in cancer research, Dr. Mary Sherman, who died during this research in a very unnatural way. Also involved in this Get-Castro-Program were David Ferrie, Lee Harvey Oswald, Alton Ochsner, and many others whose names appear regularly in most investigations of the Kennedy assassination. Yes, this cancer weapon program has also been inextricably linked to the Kennedy assassination, and the ties that bind? Spell that C-I-A.

This book by Edward T. Haslam covers all of the above, and much much more, with documentation and great detail, from an insiders perspective. Mr. Haslam’s father was a doctor and a teacher at Tulane in new Orleans, and it was from this source that Mr. Haslam began his lifelong investigation. Dr. Marys Monkey is a distillation of information and evidence concerning what can only be called a long term attack on the American people. It is, by all means, a Must Read.

After reading this book, I began to see certain patterns of history, if you will, and it seemed to me that the War On Cancer was just the first of many wars declared, then lost, by these foreign clowns and criminals who have infiltrated American Government, Medicine, Media, and Education. these wars which have been declared ad nauseum by the treasonous politico freaks and liars, whose latest versions are the war on drugs and the war on terror, do nothing so much as nurture the very forces that war is supposedly being made on.

I have also detected other patterns by reading this work, and have wondered several times if this was not an engineered happening, this sowing of cancer; was it a created circumstance, along the lines of 911, or Colombian cocaine?

This creation of a cancer epidemic seems more than anything just a very good way to A) make Americans and their insurance moneys accessible to the medical industry forever and ever; and B) nurture a nazi-like program of culling/eugenics, which is a hallmark of certain administrations who have been passing the football back and forth amongst each other now for over 50 years; and C) It is a perfect way to cover up an expected and accelerated increase in cancer which would of course erupt in conjunction with increased wireless and broadcast technologies; and D) It is a way to obtain stem cells, because even though great noise had been made over the foetal stem cell issue, the real truth of the matter is that most stem cells are derived from cancer tumors. Some cancer tumors sell for many thousands of dollars per slice, and collection activities are well developed, cryogenic, mobile, and these tumors are kept in what is called Tumor BANKS. FYI.

Was the creation of this cancer epidemic used to foster a malignant, galloping growth in technical medicine which would never have transpired without? Are we seeing the real value of Human Life, as equated to paper money by doctors?

Do get the book. see for yourself what kind of fetid and odorous intellectual dungeon you have been born into. One need only look around oneself in order to obtain a sense of the diabolical, to learn about the true devil, and all his preachers.

I suggest you start with the president, and then his closest advisors, if it is your wish to come face to face with diabolism. They are the true inheritors of this state of affairs, and it can actually be said that all this was prepared for them, to further their ends, and to further the ends of their families. the deceit, the cheating, the stealing: the seeming relish for pain and suffering and torture and hate. It is everywhere these days, and the media as well embraces this glamor of suffering and shame with gaiety and gnashing teeth. do not believe any of them, they worship the father of lies, and America will be better off without them, when that great day comes.

Read it twice.