Jack Jones
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Terence Lee
- Posts: 1095
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Famed Crooner Jack Jones Celebrates Half-Century in Showbiz
by Fielding Buck
Riverside (California) Press-Enterprise, March 13, 2008
The McCallum Theatre describes Jack Jones' Saturday concert as a tribute on its Web site. He doesn't.
"It's not a tribute," the longtime Inland resident said in a phone interview. "It's me celebrating 50 years in show business. So I'd better not call it a tribute, otherwise it would be a tribute to myself!"
Joining him at the Palm Desert theater will be artists he describes as good friends: Patti Austin, lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman and impressionist Bob Anderson. He also may give a spot to his teenage daughter, Nicole.
Jones is known for a string of hits in the '60s such as "Lollipops and Roses" and "Wives and Lovers," with its "hey, little girl" lyrics that he said became "somewhat of a thorn in the side of women's organizations. "
He's also remembered for singing the "Love Boat" theme.
Increasingly, like his friend Tony Bennett, he is considered an elder statesman in the realm of the great American songbook. "He's got that wonderful trait of being an actor as well as a singer," Alan Bergman said of Jones in a phone interview with his wife, Marilyn. "He knows how to communicate, tell a story, which most singers should do."
"And he has great humor, a great sense of humor," added Marilyn. "In addition to having this impressive instrument, his voice, he is a storyteller of dramatic songs as well as humorous, lighter songs."
Jones has some big venues lined up later this year, including the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall. But he said he only works as much as he wants to. "I just do what's comfortable. They come in and sometimes I turn them down and sometimes I don't. I like to stay active and be creative, and the reviews have been good, so I keep going."
____________ _________ _________ _________ _____
Excerpts from interview with Jack Jones
The entertainer discussed his 50 years in show business in a recent phone interview from his home in Indian Wells.
Here are excerpts of what he had to say.
On his latest CD, "Jack Jones Paints Tony Bennett":
"I was looking for an album to do, and I thought no better material than what Tony has chosen most of his life. He made a couple of boo-boos but not much. And so it was easy to make an album of substance with the things that he's recorded, and he's a friend.
"So I thought, well, that will be good. And we went to Nashville, but just before we went, (Frank) Sinatra died and we went to his funeral. And I met Tony there....
"So he said, 'So what are you gonna be doin'?' And I said, 'My next thing is an album of your stuff, a tribute to you.' He said, 'Let me do the covah!' I said, 'You would do that?' He said, 'Absolutely. '
"Time went by and then I get a call from England, the Dorchester Hotel. It's Tony. He said, 'What colah are your eyes?' I said hazel. 'OK!' He hangs up.
"So now the album cover is this sketch, but it doesn't come through in time. I'm waiting and waiting and waiting. It gets lost in his office. He sends it back to New York. It gets stuck in a closet. And nobody knows what we're talking about. And so my record label gets pretty upset and finally goes ahead without it.
"I call a friend of mine, an artist lady, and she whipped up this cover which I thought was very nice, a caricature of Tony and me kind of looking at each other in bright colors. So it worked. But it wasn't the cover that I wanted.
"And then Tony, he didn't know his album cover had gotten stuck in New York and he thought that I'd rejected it. And so it was a big hiccup for awhile until I actually got him on the front row of the Grammys. I was down there with him and said, 'You gotta listen to me.' I wrote him a letter and he didn't get that either. And so we finally restarted our friendship at that moment at the Grammys because he understood I was really telling the truth. It was quite something.
"So now I have that album cover that he painted that will be my next album cover if I ever get around to getting it done."
On the Palm Springs social scene in the 1950s and '60s:
"Super Bowl Sunday we were hanging out at Jerry Vale's house and Barbara Sinatra came over. A few of us hanging out.
"It's not like the day when my father (movie star Allan Jones) was coming out. He was a member of the showbiz community up in LA, and they'd come out here and they'd have breakfast rides and they'd have these crazy nights. (Former Mayor) Frank Bogert would organize them. And Leo Carrillo would be part of it. He'd be heading this thing up. They'd throw people in jail if they didn't donate to a certain charity. All these stars would be paraded down Palm Canyon in a wagon in handcuffs. A lot of crazy stuff they used to do.
"There was a lot of horseback riding going on. I saw Huell Houser doing a show on Palm Springs one time and he was talking about '...and there's the horse parade coming down there....' And I saw him later. I said, 'Well, you didn't know who you were pointing to in this parade? That was my father. He was the grand marshal of the parade. He was strutting down there with his horse....
"So they had a lot of fun in the equestrian area in this town. Deep Well Ranch. Smoketree.
"When I was a kid my father and I had gone riding in the morning and came back, and Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, who were married then or were going together -- I'm not sure if they were married -- they were getting on a couple of horses and going out for a ride. It was very common in those days."
by Fielding Buck
Riverside (California) Press-Enterprise, March 13, 2008
The McCallum Theatre describes Jack Jones' Saturday concert as a tribute on its Web site. He doesn't.
"It's not a tribute," the longtime Inland resident said in a phone interview. "It's me celebrating 50 years in show business. So I'd better not call it a tribute, otherwise it would be a tribute to myself!"
Joining him at the Palm Desert theater will be artists he describes as good friends: Patti Austin, lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman and impressionist Bob Anderson. He also may give a spot to his teenage daughter, Nicole.
Jones is known for a string of hits in the '60s such as "Lollipops and Roses" and "Wives and Lovers," with its "hey, little girl" lyrics that he said became "somewhat of a thorn in the side of women's organizations. "
He's also remembered for singing the "Love Boat" theme.
Increasingly, like his friend Tony Bennett, he is considered an elder statesman in the realm of the great American songbook. "He's got that wonderful trait of being an actor as well as a singer," Alan Bergman said of Jones in a phone interview with his wife, Marilyn. "He knows how to communicate, tell a story, which most singers should do."
"And he has great humor, a great sense of humor," added Marilyn. "In addition to having this impressive instrument, his voice, he is a storyteller of dramatic songs as well as humorous, lighter songs."
Jones has some big venues lined up later this year, including the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall. But he said he only works as much as he wants to. "I just do what's comfortable. They come in and sometimes I turn them down and sometimes I don't. I like to stay active and be creative, and the reviews have been good, so I keep going."
____________ _________ _________ _________ _____
Excerpts from interview with Jack Jones
The entertainer discussed his 50 years in show business in a recent phone interview from his home in Indian Wells.
Here are excerpts of what he had to say.
On his latest CD, "Jack Jones Paints Tony Bennett":
"I was looking for an album to do, and I thought no better material than what Tony has chosen most of his life. He made a couple of boo-boos but not much. And so it was easy to make an album of substance with the things that he's recorded, and he's a friend.
"So I thought, well, that will be good. And we went to Nashville, but just before we went, (Frank) Sinatra died and we went to his funeral. And I met Tony there....
"So he said, 'So what are you gonna be doin'?' And I said, 'My next thing is an album of your stuff, a tribute to you.' He said, 'Let me do the covah!' I said, 'You would do that?' He said, 'Absolutely. '
"Time went by and then I get a call from England, the Dorchester Hotel. It's Tony. He said, 'What colah are your eyes?' I said hazel. 'OK!' He hangs up.
"So now the album cover is this sketch, but it doesn't come through in time. I'm waiting and waiting and waiting. It gets lost in his office. He sends it back to New York. It gets stuck in a closet. And nobody knows what we're talking about. And so my record label gets pretty upset and finally goes ahead without it.
"I call a friend of mine, an artist lady, and she whipped up this cover which I thought was very nice, a caricature of Tony and me kind of looking at each other in bright colors. So it worked. But it wasn't the cover that I wanted.
"And then Tony, he didn't know his album cover had gotten stuck in New York and he thought that I'd rejected it. And so it was a big hiccup for awhile until I actually got him on the front row of the Grammys. I was down there with him and said, 'You gotta listen to me.' I wrote him a letter and he didn't get that either. And so we finally restarted our friendship at that moment at the Grammys because he understood I was really telling the truth. It was quite something.
"So now I have that album cover that he painted that will be my next album cover if I ever get around to getting it done."
On the Palm Springs social scene in the 1950s and '60s:
"Super Bowl Sunday we were hanging out at Jerry Vale's house and Barbara Sinatra came over. A few of us hanging out.
"It's not like the day when my father (movie star Allan Jones) was coming out. He was a member of the showbiz community up in LA, and they'd come out here and they'd have breakfast rides and they'd have these crazy nights. (Former Mayor) Frank Bogert would organize them. And Leo Carrillo would be part of it. He'd be heading this thing up. They'd throw people in jail if they didn't donate to a certain charity. All these stars would be paraded down Palm Canyon in a wagon in handcuffs. A lot of crazy stuff they used to do.
"There was a lot of horseback riding going on. I saw Huell Houser doing a show on Palm Springs one time and he was talking about '...and there's the horse parade coming down there....' And I saw him later. I said, 'Well, you didn't know who you were pointing to in this parade? That was my father. He was the grand marshal of the parade. He was strutting down there with his horse....
"So they had a lot of fun in the equestrian area in this town. Deep Well Ranch. Smoketree.
"When I was a kid my father and I had gone riding in the morning and came back, and Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, who were married then or were going together -- I'm not sure if they were married -- they were getting on a couple of horses and going out for a ride. It was very common in those days."
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Lena & Harry Smith
- Posts: 21514
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:05 am
- Location: London UK
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Terence Lee
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:29 pm
- Location: Penang Island, Malaysia
- Contact:
A recent question-and- answer session revealed things even his fans may not know about Jack, at least as well as they think they do.
Q: What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about Jack Jones?
A: I am reasonably computer literate.
Q: What was your most embarrassing moment in show biz?
A: I had just run into you at the Palm Springs film festival gala. Then I walked the whole red carpet with my fly open. But it was obviously nothing to speak of. I can't decide which part of that is more embarrassing.
Q: You do a mean impression of Walter Cronkite on your cell phone recording message. What other impressions do you do?
A: I do Walter Brennan, Bill Cosby, Jack Nicholson, John Wayne, Ed Sullivan -- and some others I can't think of.
Q: Another thing many people may not realize is the length of your acting career. You received rave reviews a few years ago for your starring role as Don Quixote in a touring production of "Man of La Mancha." What are your other favorite acting roles?
A: (Playing) Sid Sorokin, the lead in "Pajama Game," and Curly in "Oklahoma!"
Q: Your trademark may be your bow tie. How did that happen?
A: I don't know, but, if I want to be recognized at the pool, I wear my tuxedo wet suit.
Q: You just celebrated your 70th birthday. When Frank Sinatra was that age, he was singing "My Way," "Summer Wind" and "The Gal That Got Away." What song reflects the way you feel about turning 70?
A: "Where Do You Start," the song by the Bergmans (and Johnny Mandel).
(Sample lyrics:
"Our lives are tangled like the branches of a vine
That intertwine
So many habits that we'll have to break, and yesterdays
We'll have to take apart")
____________ _________ _________ _________ ________
Jack's Top 20
"Lollipops and Roses," 1962
"Call Me Irresponsible, " 1963
"Wives and Lovers" / "Toys in the Attic," 1963
"Love With the Proper Stranger," 1964
"The First Night of the Full Moon" 1964
"Where Love Has Gone," 1964
"Dear Heart," 1964
"The Race Is On," 1965
"Seein' the Right Love Go Wrong," 1965
"Just Yesterday," 1965
"Love Bug," 1965
"The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," 1966
"A Day in the Life of a Fool," 1966
"Lady," 1967
"I'm Indestructible, " 1967
"Now I Know," 1967
"Our Song," 1967
"Live for Life," 1967
"If You Ever Leave Me," 1968
"The Love Boat Theme," 1980
Q: What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about Jack Jones?
A: I am reasonably computer literate.
Q: What was your most embarrassing moment in show biz?
A: I had just run into you at the Palm Springs film festival gala. Then I walked the whole red carpet with my fly open. But it was obviously nothing to speak of. I can't decide which part of that is more embarrassing.
Q: You do a mean impression of Walter Cronkite on your cell phone recording message. What other impressions do you do?
A: I do Walter Brennan, Bill Cosby, Jack Nicholson, John Wayne, Ed Sullivan -- and some others I can't think of.
Q: Another thing many people may not realize is the length of your acting career. You received rave reviews a few years ago for your starring role as Don Quixote in a touring production of "Man of La Mancha." What are your other favorite acting roles?
A: (Playing) Sid Sorokin, the lead in "Pajama Game," and Curly in "Oklahoma!"
Q: Your trademark may be your bow tie. How did that happen?
A: I don't know, but, if I want to be recognized at the pool, I wear my tuxedo wet suit.
Q: You just celebrated your 70th birthday. When Frank Sinatra was that age, he was singing "My Way," "Summer Wind" and "The Gal That Got Away." What song reflects the way you feel about turning 70?
A: "Where Do You Start," the song by the Bergmans (and Johnny Mandel).
(Sample lyrics:
"Our lives are tangled like the branches of a vine
That intertwine
So many habits that we'll have to break, and yesterdays
We'll have to take apart")
____________ _________ _________ _________ ________
Jack's Top 20
"Lollipops and Roses," 1962
"Call Me Irresponsible, " 1963
"Wives and Lovers" / "Toys in the Attic," 1963
"Love With the Proper Stranger," 1964
"The First Night of the Full Moon" 1964
"Where Love Has Gone," 1964
"Dear Heart," 1964
"The Race Is On," 1965
"Seein' the Right Love Go Wrong," 1965
"Just Yesterday," 1965
"Love Bug," 1965
"The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," 1966
"A Day in the Life of a Fool," 1966
"Lady," 1967
"I'm Indestructible, " 1967
"Now I Know," 1967
"Our Song," 1967
"Live for Life," 1967
"If You Ever Leave Me," 1968
"The Love Boat Theme," 1980
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Terence Lee
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:29 pm
- Location: Penang Island, Malaysia
- Contact:
-
Terence Lee
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:29 pm
- Location: Penang Island, Malaysia
- Contact:
Hi Marian
Someone was trying to find out if Jack had ever recorded "Alright, OK, You Win". Is it on any of his albums?
I know he sang it at the Ballroom in 1988 and was reviewed favorably by Stephen Holden. At that performance, his father, Allan Jones, then 79, joined him on stage to sing "The Impossible Dream" and stole the show.
He also sang it in a tribute to Peggy Lee in July 2004 at the Hollywood Bowl but critic Don Heckman in The Times said it was "too far over the top". However, All That Jazz said of the same performance..... "he sounded as good as he ever has but unfortunately no better". I think that's because Jack always sounds his best and Marian will second that!
Someone was trying to find out if Jack had ever recorded "Alright, OK, You Win". Is it on any of his albums?
I know he sang it at the Ballroom in 1988 and was reviewed favorably by Stephen Holden. At that performance, his father, Allan Jones, then 79, joined him on stage to sing "The Impossible Dream" and stole the show.
He also sang it in a tribute to Peggy Lee in July 2004 at the Hollywood Bowl but critic Don Heckman in The Times said it was "too far over the top". However, All That Jazz said of the same performance..... "he sounded as good as he ever has but unfortunately no better". I think that's because Jack always sounds his best and Marian will second that!
I'm sorry I missed this one a while back Terence. I'm not sure about this song. I don't believe Jack has recorded it, but I could be wrong.
I did see Allan Jones appear as Jack's guest once at the Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester. His voice was still very strong, even into his eighties.
He has a very good website with lots of info and photos, with some early ones of JJ growing up too. It is endorsed by Jack's half brother Ted, Allan's first son. http://allanjonestribute.com
Marian
I did see Allan Jones appear as Jack's guest once at the Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester. His voice was still very strong, even into his eighties.
He has a very good website with lots of info and photos, with some early ones of JJ growing up too. It is endorsed by Jack's half brother Ted, Allan's first son. http://allanjonestribute.com
Marian
A newspaper interview with Jack.
The 5-minute Interview: Jack Jones, Singer
'People go for simple songs but I like something more complicated'
Friday, 28 March 2008
Hailed by Frank Sinatra as "one of the major singers of our time", Jones, 70, has recorded more than 50 albums and sang the theme tune for the American television series 'The Love Boat'. In May he embarks on a 13-date UK tour to mark 50 years in the music industry
If I wasn't talking to you right now I'd be...
Eating my breakfast, which is what I'm trying to do now! I normally have bagels with smoked salmon and a cup of coffee.
A phrase I use far too often is...
Apparently I'm always saying "That was unbelievable".
I wish people would take more notice of...
Sophisticated chord structure in music. I find great beauty in songs with a creative interpretation, but most people generally don't get that, and go for the simple songs, but I prefer something a bit more complicated, which is more meaningful to the creator.
The most surprising thing that happened to me was...
I think that was probably when I won my first Grammy. I hadn't been in the music business that long really so it came as a bit of a shock to me. I didn't expect it at all.
A common misconception of me is...
That I am elegant. Because I'm shy and a bit quiet I think people assume I'm an elegant person.
I am not a politician but...
I still reserve the right to dislike them all!
I'm good at...
Singing, producing and I'm quite good with computers.
I'm bad at...
Playing golf. That's one of the main things I'm bad at, so I don't play it any more.
The ideal night out is...
Listening to jazz, which I love. I also like to eat dinner outside in the desert because it's very nice here at this time of the year.
In moments of weakness I...
Eat chocolate. I particularly like Hershey's chocolate, the kind which has almonds in it.
You know me as a singer but in another life I'd have been...
I was always one of those fortunate people who never wanted to be anything other than a singer and an actor. Most people know me as a singer but I am also an actor.
The best age to be is...
The age where you can decide to be anything you want. But I suppose being young is good, because you've got such a long life ahead of you.
In a nutshell my philosophy is...
The golden rule is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Marian
The 5-minute Interview: Jack Jones, Singer
'People go for simple songs but I like something more complicated'
Friday, 28 March 2008
Hailed by Frank Sinatra as "one of the major singers of our time", Jones, 70, has recorded more than 50 albums and sang the theme tune for the American television series 'The Love Boat'. In May he embarks on a 13-date UK tour to mark 50 years in the music industry
If I wasn't talking to you right now I'd be...
Eating my breakfast, which is what I'm trying to do now! I normally have bagels with smoked salmon and a cup of coffee.
A phrase I use far too often is...
Apparently I'm always saying "That was unbelievable".
I wish people would take more notice of...
Sophisticated chord structure in music. I find great beauty in songs with a creative interpretation, but most people generally don't get that, and go for the simple songs, but I prefer something a bit more complicated, which is more meaningful to the creator.
The most surprising thing that happened to me was...
I think that was probably when I won my first Grammy. I hadn't been in the music business that long really so it came as a bit of a shock to me. I didn't expect it at all.
A common misconception of me is...
That I am elegant. Because I'm shy and a bit quiet I think people assume I'm an elegant person.
I am not a politician but...
I still reserve the right to dislike them all!
I'm good at...
Singing, producing and I'm quite good with computers.
I'm bad at...
Playing golf. That's one of the main things I'm bad at, so I don't play it any more.
The ideal night out is...
Listening to jazz, which I love. I also like to eat dinner outside in the desert because it's very nice here at this time of the year.
In moments of weakness I...
Eat chocolate. I particularly like Hershey's chocolate, the kind which has almonds in it.
You know me as a singer but in another life I'd have been...
I was always one of those fortunate people who never wanted to be anything other than a singer and an actor. Most people know me as a singer but I am also an actor.
The best age to be is...
The age where you can decide to be anything you want. But I suppose being young is good, because you've got such a long life ahead of you.
In a nutshell my philosophy is...
The golden rule is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Marian