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Davy Jones of The Monkees dies aged 66 | Davy Jones of The Monkees dies aged 66 |
(40 minutes later) | |
Davy Jones, Manchester-born lead singer with 60s band The Monkees, has died aged 66, his publicist has confirmed. | Davy Jones, Manchester-born lead singer with 60s band The Monkees, has died aged 66, his publicist has confirmed. |
He died in his sleep at his home in Florida. His publicist, Deborah Robicheau, said he had a massive heart attack. | He died in his sleep at his home in Florida. His publicist, Deborah Robicheau, said he had a massive heart attack. |
The band, who included musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, were famous for hits including Daydream Believer and I'm a Believer. | The band, who included musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, were famous for hits including Daydream Believer and I'm a Believer. |
The Monkees were an American pop band, assembled in 1966. | The Monkees were an American pop band, assembled in 1966. |
Jones was married three times and had four daughters. | Jones was married three times and had four daughters. |
The Monkees found fame through a successful television series, popular in both the US and the UK, and had four number one albums in a 13-month period. | |
They were famous for their clean-cut image and were marketed as the American answer to The Beatles, notching up nine top 40 hits. | They were famous for their clean-cut image and were marketed as the American answer to The Beatles, notching up nine top 40 hits. |
Acting career | Acting career |
Three of the band's original members - Jones, Dolenz and Tork - reunited together last year to play a series of gigs. | Three of the band's original members - Jones, Dolenz and Tork - reunited together last year to play a series of gigs. |
He appeared aged 11 on ITV soap Coronation Street, as Ena Sharples's grandson. He also appeared in the television series Z Cars before leaving showbusiness to train as a jockey. | He appeared aged 11 on ITV soap Coronation Street, as Ena Sharples's grandson. He also appeared in the television series Z Cars before leaving showbusiness to train as a jockey. |
He came back to acting with a role in a stage production of Oliver! He appeared in the West End and followed the show to Broadway where he built up a career as an actor and singer before auditioning for The Monkees. | He came back to acting with a role in a stage production of Oliver! He appeared in the West End and followed the show to Broadway where he built up a career as an actor and singer before auditioning for The Monkees. |
Music journalist Paul Gambaccini described Jones as having "phenomenal" charisma and said that in 2008, he was voted the top teen idol of all time by Yahoo! Music. | |
"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. | |
Developing talent | |
Mr Gambaccini said The Monkees had been put together by the music industry, something which was unheard of at that time. | |
"There had been individual teen idols who had been literally picked up off the street and groomed to be popstar, but there had never been a band that was put together, and they were assembled because the two producers had liked A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles' movie." | |
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." | |
He described the Monkees as "a lot of fun" and as a band which overcame its critics. | |
"Everybody, even at the time, was going that this is so un-cool. It's a made-up group and they're not really very talented. | |
"But they became talented, which was the good thing. They started with a modicum of talent and that was developed over a period of time. And basically, they had fun with the TV shows. I think people look back and think it is crazy, it is cartoon stuff. But that is why it was good." | |
A spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner's Office for Martin County, Florida, said: "The District 19 Medical Examiner's Office has been informed of the death of Mr Davy Jones. | A spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner's Office for Martin County, Florida, said: "The District 19 Medical Examiner's Office has been informed of the death of Mr Davy Jones. |
"The Medical Examiner's Office will take jurisdiction and a possible autopsy will be performed and evaluation of the circumstances of death and medical information." | "The Medical Examiner's Office will take jurisdiction and a possible autopsy will be performed and evaluation of the circumstances of death and medical information." |