Davy Jones (Openshaw)

Davy Jones (b. David Thomas Jones, Sunday, December 30, 1945, 20 Leamington Street, Openshaw, east Manchester 11, Lancashire, England d. Wednesday, February 29, 2012, Martin Memorial South Hospital, Stuart City, Martin County, Florida, USA).

Jones was the son of Harry Jones (b. Thomas Henry Jones, Friday, March 29, 1907, Gorton, Manchester 18, Lancashire, England d. Monday, October 28, 1968, Manchester, Lancashire, England) and Mrs. Doris Jones (b. Miss Doris Whitehead, Sunday, March 1, 1908, Ardwick, Manchester, Lancashire, England d. Wednesday, February 10, 1960, Manchester, Lancashire, England of emphysema) who had married in 1936 in Manchester. He had three older sister Mrs. Hazel Wilkinson (b. Miss Hazel Jones, Thursday, August 19, 1937, 20 Leamington Street, Openshaw, east Manchester 11, Lancashire, England d. Sunday, August 17, 2025, Accrington, Lancashire, England), Mrs. Beryl Leigh (b. Miss Beryl Jones, 1938, 20 Leamington Street, Openshaw, east Manchester 11, Lancashire, England) and Mrs. Lynda Moore (b. Miss Lynda Jones, 1943, 20 Leamington Street, Openshaw, east Manchester 11, Lancashire, England). He also had an auntie Miss Jessie Jones (b. c. 1909 d. ) and an uncle Goerge Jones (b. George Ernest Jones, 1910 d. 1993).

Jones went to Varna Street Primary School, Varna Street, Openshaw, east Manchester 11. With his school friends Brian Dutton and Steve Conner, they all went to the same Scout Group in Lee Street off Ashton Old Road, Higher Openshaw, east Manchester 11.

Harry Jones sent Davy Jones to trumpet lessons and because he was bullied, he sent him to boxing lessons as well.

Miss Hazel Jones married in 1959 Ken Wilkinson (b. Kenneth Wilkinson, England d. Accrington, Lancashire, England).

Jones left school aged 15 because he loved horses and wanted to become a jockey. He went down to Newmarket to train, commencing an apprenticeship with Newmarket trainer Basil Foster; however; his boss saw something else in him and recommended him for the role of the Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart's 'Oliver!' Even though Foster believed Jones would be successful as a jockey, he encouraged his young protégé to take a role. When approached by a friend who worked in a West End theatre during the show's casting, Foster replied, 'I've got the kid.' Jones got the part and made his West End stage debut aged 14. Jones' portrayal brought him great acclaim. He made his TV debut the following year, when he appeared on Coronation Street as Ena Sharples' grandson, Colin Lomax. He made a guest appearance on the 25th episode of the soap, which aired on Monday, March 6, 1961. He also appeared in the BBC police series Z-Cars.

In 1962, he was on Broadway with 'Oliver!' for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.

On Sunday, February 9, 1964, 18-year-old Jones appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show with Georgie Brown (1933 - 1992) and met The Beatles. He said, 'I watched the Beatles from the side of the stage. I saw the girls going crazy, and I said to myself, this is it, I want a piece of that.'

In September 1964, 18-year-old Davy Jones, signed a long-term contract with 24-year-old Ward Sylvester (b. Sunday, October 22, 1939, New York City, NY, USA d. Monday, June 12, 2017, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, southern California, USA) of Screen Gems, at that time the television division of Columbia Records. As part of the deal, which covered films, television, and music, Jones was signed to the company's record division, Colpix.

In December 1964, Jones recorded his first Colpix single, 'Dream Girl' (Van McCoy) and 'Take Me To Paradise' (Toni Wine, Steve Venet). It was produced by Jack Lewis (b. John C. Lewis, 1928, Ottawa City, Ontario, Canada d. January 2011, Hospital, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, southern California, USA) and arranged by Charlie Callelo (b. Charles Callelo, Wednesday, August 24, 1938, Newark City, Essex County, New Jersey, USA).

In February 1965 David Jones released his first US single 'Dream Girl' (Van McCoy) and 'Take Me To Paradise' (Toni Wine, Steve Venet) on Colpix CP 764. The single failed to chart.

On Tuesday, June 15, 1965 sessions for Jones first album 'David Jones' began at United Western Recordings at 6000 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, southern California, USA. The backing tracks for 'This Bouquet,' 'Baby It's Me,' 'A Little You,' and 'What Are We Going To Do' were recorded. 'A Little You' was also recorded, but did not appear on the final track listing. On Monday, July 26, 1965 the backing tracks for 'Theme For A New Love,' 'My Dad,' 'Face Up To It,' 'Maybe It's Because I'm A Londoner,' 'Put Me Amongst The Girls,' 'Any Old Iron' and 'It Ain't Me Babe' were recorded in two three-hour sessions. During the recording of the album, Jones was simultaneously appearing in the musical Pickwick in Los Angeles. It was produced by Hank Leveine (b. Henry H. Levine, June 1927, Pittsburgh City, Allegheny County, southwestern Pennsylvania, USA) who had become Colpix's A&R director at the end of May 1965.

On Friday, September 3, 1965 David Jones released his first and only UK single under this name, 'What Are We Going To Do' (Hank Levine, Smokey Roberds, Murray Macleod) and 'This Bouquet' (Hank Levine, Smokey Roberds, Murray Macleod) on Colpix PX 784. It was produced and arranged by Hank Levine.

In November 1965 David Jones released his third US single 'The Girl From Chelsea' (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) and 'Theme For A New Love (I Saw You Only Once)' (Hank Levine, Berdie Abrams) on Colpix CP-789. The A-side was produced by and arranged by David Gates (b. David Ashworth Gates, Wednesday, December 11, 1940, St. John Hospital, Tulsa City, Oklahoma, USA) and the B-side was produced and arranged by Hank Levine.

From 1966 to 1970, Jones was a member of the Monkees, a pop-rock band formed expressly for a television show of the same name. With Screen Gems producing the series, Jones was shortlisted for auditions, as he was the only Monkee who was signed to a deal with the studio, but he still had to meet the standards of producers Bob Rafelson (b. Robert Jay Rafelson, Tuesday, February 21, 1933, Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA d. Saturday, July 23, 2022 at his home in Aspen, Colorado, USA of lung cancer) and Bert Sshneider (b. Berton Jerome Schneider, Friday, May 5, 1933, New York City, NY, USA d. Monday, December 12, 2011, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, southern California, USA).

On Friday, April 14, 1967 Davy Jones released his first UK single under this name, 'It Ain't Me Babe' (Bob Dylan) and 'Baby It's Me' (Anthony (Tony Hatch) on Pye 7N 17302. It was produced and arranged by Hank Levine.

On Friday, September 15 1967 Davy Jones released his second UK single under this name 'Theme For A New Love' (Hank Levine, Berdie Abrams) and 'Dream Girl' (Van McCoy) on Pye 7N 17380. It was produced and arranged by Hank Levine.

On Friday, December 15, 1967, 21-year-old Jones married 22-year-old Miss Linda Haines (b. Miss Dixie Linda Haines, Friday, February 16, 1945, Raleigh, California, USA), with whom he had been living. They remarried on Thursday, October 31, 1968 in Winterhaven, Imperial County, California, USA, after a draft board ruled their initial marriage illegal. Their first child was Miss Talia Jones (b. Miss Talia Elizabeth Jones, Wednesday, October 2, 1968, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, southern California, USA). 

Dave Jones Discography

David Jones UK 45
Friday, September 3, 1965 What Are We Going To Do (Hank Levine, Smokey Roberds, Murray Macleod) / This Bouquet (Hank Levine, Smokey Roberds, Murray Macleod) Colpix PX 784

Davy Jones UK 45s
Friday, April 14, 1967 It Ain't Me Babe (Bob Dylan) / Baby It's Me (Anthony (Tony Hatch) Pye 7N 17302
Friday, September 15 1967 Theme For A New Love (Hank Levine, Berdie Abrams) / Dream Girl (Van McCoy) Pye 7N 17380

David Jones US 45s
February 1965 Dream Girl (Van McCoy) / Take Me To Paradise (Toni Wine, Steve Venet) Colpix CP 764
July 1965 What Are We Going To Do (Hank Levine, Smokey Roberds, Murray Macleod) / This Bouquet (Hank Levine, Smokey Roberds, Murray Macleod) Colpix CP-784 / CP 784
November 1965 The Girl From Chelsea (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) / Theme For A New Love (I Saw You Only Once) (Hank Levine, Berdie Abrams) Colpix CP-789

David Jones UK album
March 1967 David Jones Pye NPL 18178

David Jones US albums
September 1965 David Jones Colpix CP-493 Mono
September 1965 David Jones Colpix SCP-493 Stereo ..

Info courtesy John H Warburg August 2026