The Monkees Davy Jones has died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 66. The lead singer of the Monkees, who had been on a solo tour earlier in February, complained of chest pains and was admitted to a hospital in Florida.

Davy Jones was born in Manchester and began acting as a child at the age of 11 on “Coronation Street” and then in the police series “Z-Cars”, before playing the Artful Dodger in the West End cast of “Oliver!” He later moved to the Broadway production of the musical, where he was nominated for a Tony Award, and appeared with the cast on the same 1964 episode of “The Ed Sullivan Show” that featured the Beatles’ first appearance. There was a certain irony to this as the Monkees were created to emulate the Beatles success as an American version of them and were to challenge the Beatles’ supremacy for a brief period three years later!! However it wasn’t until 1965 that he made his big breakthrough when he joined The Monkees’ highly successful television series, and a series of hit records duly followed in the late 1960s. At the Monkees’ peak in 1967 they sold more records worldwide than the Beatles.

Davy Jones played tambourine ( but not triangle!! ) and was the lead vocalist on the perennial “Daydream Believer and many other classics including the Neil Diamond penned “I’m a Believer”, “Last Train to Clarksville” and my particular favourites “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You”, “Alternate Title” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday”.

Although the Monkees parted company in 1971, they reunited many times over the past forty years, most recently last summer when they toured in the UK for the first time in nearly a decade.

Which are your favourite Monkees songs, singles or album tracks? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

You can immortalise Davy Jones and the Monkees in your own home or workplace / office, by ordering your favourite vinyl record or CD; single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc. ORDER NOW by clicking on…….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Alternatively this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding Song ), a 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!

For further tributes, news, merchandise and memorabilia, go to the Monkees Official Websites…… www.monkees.net www.monkees.com

Or indeed visit the Davy Jones Website, to pay your respects and tributes…………… www.davyjones.net