Davey Jones Just Died.

[shadowkat]

My first tv boyfriend (who wasn't a cartoon). And if you weren't alive by 1975, you probably have no clue who I'm talking about.

Co-worker K (past 50 yrs of age): Ohhhh, Davy Jones died.
Co-worker M (28 if that, early 30s): Who is he?
Co-worker K: The Monkeeys.
Co-worker M: Oh, classic rock. I'm not into classic rock.

Co-worker W: wasn't he famous for singing hey,hey, we're the Monkeeys?
Co-worker C: Well amongst other things...Marsha Brady is certainly in mourning.
Co-worker W: who is Marsha Brady?

Co-worker K: He sang Daydream Believer.
Co-worker W: I thought that was Susan Boyle.
Co-worker K: No...it originated with Davy Jones.

I actually met him in 2003, got his autograph and everything. That's how I learned he was originally a jockey (as in racing horses not music), got injured and went on to perform in musicals like Oliver! He performed a mucial number from Oliver! on the Ed Sullivan show right before the Beatles performed on Ed Sullivan for the first time. As a result of his performance, he got cast later in The Monkeeys. And 6-7 year old me was in love with him.

Oh forgot...he died of a heart-attack at 66. Young, very young. (When you are turning 45, anything below 95 is young. It's all based on perspective.)

Comments

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

I did not know he was once a jockey, but given how ridiculously tiny he seemed, that actually doesn't surprise me.

Sad though. He always seemed so youthful...

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I only know because he told me during a live interview that I saw at the marketing party for the DVD release of the Beatles First Appearence on the Ed Sullivan Show. This was back in 2003.

And he is tiny. He can't be more than 4'10 if that. He's shorter than Barbara Bach and I remember cjl being taller than he was. He came to just above my waist.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Definitely seems too young to have died.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Co-worker K: The Monkeeys.
Co-worker M: Oh, classic rock. I'm not into classic rock.


*snort*

But I do remember Davy on Saturday morning re-runs, and that he once took Marsha Brady on a date.

This makes me sad.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

That's when I watched the Monkees...it did come back briefly in the late 90s on MTV I think. But in the 70s it was on Saturdays and occassionally in the afternoon on one of the broadcast channels.

[lizziebuffy2008.livejournal.com]

I think he might have been one of my first crushes...maybe because he was so pocket sized. I used to watch the show in the afternoon (in reruns) while doing my homework in elementary school.

I definitely agree with you about the bar for being old moving further. I am 44 and hubby is 49, so 66 just seems much younger than it used to. Although, I keep waiting to feel significantly different than I did when in my 20s and 30's...that has not happened yet.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Hey we're the same age...well until March 9th, at any rate.

And yep, I watched the show in the afternoon and on Sat mornings in elementary school. I remember the worst punishment my parents could come up with at that time was "if you don't do this....you can't watch the Monkeeys!" For little girls - he's perfect, because he was the same size we were. Pocket-sized.

[lizziebuffy2008.livejournal.com]

I kind of thought we might be the same age, since you have 67 in your user name. I will turn 45 November 26th. Maybe I am not use to 44 yet, but when someone asks my age, I find that it takes me a minute to remember exactly how old I am....maybe it is not the newness of the age, but age itself...nah...;-)

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I was surprised to learn that he was older than me. It was probably his size that made me think he was younger.

I guess he was the actor of the group and I think Mickey was the singer. Now if they just could have played their instruments. ;o)

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I guess he was the actor of the group and I think Mickey was the singer. Now if they just could have played their instruments.

Apparently Davy and Mickey were the singers or front men. Although Mickey was better and could play an instrument. Davy was theater trained and a Broadway singer vs. Mickey and the others who were musicians. I remember in a documentary a while back - Mike Nesbith and Peter Tork being annoyed that they couldn't write their own songs or play their own instruments - both were trained musicians. Tork was particularly peeved. Nesbith became wealthy because his mom patented "white out", and he's also been credited with the creation of the music video. Although...I've always been a bit suspicious with the second bit - considering the Beatles were making music videos long before that.

His size did make him look younger. He was on tour just last year - so this came as a bit of a surprise.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Mike Nesmith didn't invent the music video, but he was one of the people who thought up MTV. (Apparently MTV used to show music videos once.)

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

He was not much older than me, and I remember the Monkees very well, they were fresh funny and different, it was a great show and I always liked all four of them.
He was young to die (and I'm not saying that just because he was only a few years older than me!).
Mike Nesmith wrote something sweet at facebook:
"All the lovely people. Where do they all come from?

So many lovely and heartfelt messages of condolence and sympathy, I don’t know what to say, except my sincere thank you to all. I share and appreciate your feelings.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.

While it is jarring, and sometimes seems unjust, or strange, this transition we call dying and death is a constant in the mortal experience that we know almost nothing about. I am of the mind that it is a transition and I carry with me a certainty of the continuity of existence. While I don’t exactly know what happens in these times, there is an ongoing sense of life that reaches in my mind out far beyond the near horizons of mortality and into the reaches of infinity.

That David has stepped beyond my view causes me the sadness that it does many of you. I will miss him, but I won’t abandon him to mortality. I will think of him as existing within the animating life that insures existence. I will think of him and his family with that gentle regard in spite of all the contrary appearances on the mortal plane.

David’s spirit and soul live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many, including us.

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