Jack Jones

[Terence Lee]

Jones Still in Love with Love Songs

by Bob Curtright
Wichita Eagle, April 17, 2008

Legendary jazz and pop singer Jack Jones admits that he sometimes despairs about the future of modern music that his 17-year-old daughter listens to.

It's less about talent and more about electronics these days, he thinks.

"It's too easy to create a hit record because you can concoct it electronically, " says Jones, who celebrated his 50th anniversary in showbiz on March 15 with a special concert in Palm Desert, Calif. "It's a scary thought because it's the end of creativity on a certain level."

But Jones is not all gloom and doom because, he says, there are bright spots like smooth Canadian stylist Michael Buble, who reassure veterans like himself that their type of easy-listening love songs will always be around.

And Jones, who won Grammys as best male vocalist in the 1960s for such hits as "Wives and Lovers" and "Lollipop and Roses," is still all about love songs. He'll be bringing his one-man show to Wichita's Orpheum Theatre on Friday.

"I like to tell a love story in my sequence of songs," Jones said by phone from his California home. "It's all about boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl- again."

Jones was born in Hollywood 70 years ago. His string of hits include such classics and standards as "Call Me Irresponsible, " "If," "What I Did for Love," "Dear Heart," "The Impossible Dream" and the theme from "The Love Boat."

[Marian]

Thanks for the review Terence. I only hope Jack has changed his show for the U.K audience this year, as he has been doing the "boy meets girl" one for about four years now!
I expect he has, as he knows he has a more discerning audience over here
Marian

[keithgood838]

Hi Terence,
Thanks for the interesting review. I once attended
a show featuring Jack in a intimate theatre, in a place
called Borehamwood, near where I live in North London.
The theatre is called, appropriately, The Venue. Jack
chatted away to the audience, I actually exchanged
a word with him, he had problems with the sound system,
and yet we all enjoyed his rare, casual performance.
I think his album, Write Me a Love song, Charlie, is a
classic, featuring the work of Charles Aznavour. Jack
married an English girl who worked at The London Stock
Exchange as a secretary.
Keith

[Marian]

Are you going to see Jack this year Keith? He's singing better than ever and touring here in May. Sadly, no longer marrried to his English wife.
Marian

[mariana44]

Quite a few of us on this forum like the music of Jack Jones--I do not think "Write me a love song Charlie" has been released on cd yet---or is it one of those just issued in Japan ??

[keithgood838]

Hi Marian,
Thanks for the news that Jack Jones is touring here in May.
I'll certainly try to see him, he belongs to the old school
of fine crooners. Of course the album I wrongly referred
to is, 'Write me a love song, Charlie.' Oops!
Keith

[Marian]

Here are Jack's tour dates for next month Keith -

May 1-31, 2008 United Kingdom Tour Various
May 3, 2008 Royal & Derngate Northampton, UK
Tickets: 01604 624811
www.royalandderngate.co.uk/en/Home
May 5, 2008 Royal Concert Hall Glasgow, UK
Tickets: 0141 353 8000
www.glasgowconcerthalls.com
May 6, 2008 Sage Gateshead Center Gateshead, UK
Tickets: 0191 443 4661
www.thesagegateshead.org
May 8, 2008 Eden Court Theatre Irverness, UK
Tickets: 0146 323 4234
www.eden-court.co.uk
May 9, 2008 Perth Theater Perth, UK
Tickets: 0845 612 6324
www.horsecross.co.uk
May 10, 2008 Thoresby Hall Thoresby, UK
Tickets: 0800 1388 399
www.warnerbreaks.co.uk
May 11, 2008 Symphony Hall Birmingham, UK
Tickets: 0121 780 3333
www.thsh.co.uk/page/symphony-hall-birmingham
May 12, 2008 Fairfield Halls Croydon, UK
Tickets: 0208 688 9291
www.fairfield.co.uk
May 14, 2008 Cliffs Pavilion Southend on Sea, UK
Tickets: 0170 235 1135
www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
May 15, 2008 Bridgewater Hall Manchester, UK
Tickets: 0161 907 9000
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
May 16, 2008 International Center Harrogate, UK
Tickets: 0845 130 8840
www.harrogateinternationalcentre.co.uk
May 17, 2008 Littlecote House Hungerford, UK
Tickets: 0800 1388 399
www.warnerbreaks.co.uk
May 18, 2008 London Palladium London, UK
londontheatredirect.com
Booking: 0871 722 1000
www.london-palladium.co.uk

Marian

[keithgood838]

Marian, my dear,
Thanks for Jack's tour dates. I must try to
make the Palladium concert.
You really are a mine of information,
and a touch typist.
Keith

[Marian]

It's just copy and paste Keith.
Marian

[Gray]

I heard 'What I Did For Love' today on radio 2 from the soundtrack of A Chorus Line - I love the song - and I really do like Jack Jones' version the best.

[Marian]

Not long before Jack's here now (3rd) although I don't see him until the 12th.
If anyone spots him on tv, please give me the nod.
Marian

[Mark Fox]

Normally I keep an eye open for JJ on TV but we are in Devon from the 2nd May!

[Marian]

Have a great time Mark. Hope the weather improves for you.
Marian

[Mark Fox]

Thanks,Marian-however,I'll tune in tomorrow morning to carch JJ on Breakfast TV.thanks for the tip-off.

[mariana44]

Just read yesterdays [Thursday] Express--a very unfavourable report of JJ's concert in Gateshead.

However, I know that the newspapers tend to distort these things completely, so I am sure it was nowhere near as bad as they said.