Davy Jones R.I.P.

DAVY JONES, 66, former Monkees lead singer and tambourine player, died of a heart attack at Martin Memorial Hospital in Martin Country, FL. Jones last performed in Feb. 19 in Oklahoma, a night after appearing at B.B. King’s in New York. The native of Manchester, U.K., began his acting career while still in his pre-teens, appearing on the British soap opera Coronation Streets and the original West End production of Oliver! as the Artful Dodger. He briefly trained as a jockey as a teen, but returned to performing. His career took off when he was chosen alongside Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz for the Screen Gems TV show The Monkees. He continued to act and perform music, appearing in TV shows The Brady Bunch, My Two Dads and Love, American Style. The group disbanded in 2011, but reunited periodically, most recently in 2011 for “An Evening with the Monkees: The 45th Anniversary Tour.” His last album was a collection of classics spanning the ‘40s to ‘70s, titled She, released in 2009. He is survived by his wife Jessica and four daughters from previous marriages. (2/29p)