Mourning a Monkee – The Loss of Davy Jones, Singer of The Monkees

Those of us that lived through the 60s and 70s will remember teenage heartthrob, Davy Jones of The Monkees. We remember fondly the songs, “Daydream Believer”, “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer” among many others. Unfortunately, Davy Jones passed away on February 29^th of a heart attack at 66 years old near his home in Indiantown, Florida.

The Monkees were created as a television show by NBC in an attempt to cash-in on the immense popularity of the Beatle’s. While they never quite attained the same status, they did create a niche for themselves and many of their songs remain popular today. Rolling Stone referred to them as “the first and perhaps the best of the ’60s and ’70s prefabricated pop groups.”

The show follows the four young men of The Monkees as they attempt to make a name for themselves in the rock ‘n roll industry. The show was awarded with two Emmy Awards in 1967 for its innovative new-wave film techniques. The four young men casted for the show were Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Mickey Dolenz. In the show, these four young men lived together in a two-story beach house in Malibu, California. They cavorted about in the famous Monkeemobile, going to auditions, performing and rescuing damsels in distress.

While the show only ran for 2 years and the band broke up later due to creative differences, the members still got together periodically to release new albums, a TV film entitled, “Hey, Hey It’s the Monkees!” and to perform concerts for their devoted fans. In fact, Jones, Tork and Dolenz had only completed their 45^th anniversary tour for The Monkees months before Jones’s death.

Our hearts are saddened to lose this bright star at far too young an age. Members of the audience at his last concert said he seemed lively and in good health and were shocked to hear of his unexpected death. While the toxicology report has not been completed, the coroner was positive in his assessment that the death was caused solely by a heart attack.

Davy Jones is survived by his wife, Jessica Pacheco and his four daughters.

The music he and The Monkees created will continue on through future generations.

He will be remembered.

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