Remembering Jack Jones
January 14, 1938 – October 23, 2024
A tribute to one of the last major crooners
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Jack Jones passed away on Oct. 23, 1924 at the age of 86.
He was born on Jan. 14, 1938 in Hollywood, California and was the son of singer-actor Allan Jones.
Jones studied drama and singing, gained attention when some demos that he recorded for songwriter Don Raye were noticed, and in 1959 signed with the Capitol label.
After recording the album This Love Of Mine, he switched to the Kapp label where he recorded over 15 albums through the years.
While not really a jazz singer, Jones could swing like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra and sounded quite comfortable in front of a big band.
Jack Jones recorded a variety of material in the 1960s and ‘70s including some contemporary songs although he preferred tunes from the Great American Songbook.
He had strong successes with “Wives And Lovers,” “The Impossible Dream,” “Lollipops And Roses,” “The Race Is On,” and the theme for “The Love Boat.”
Jones, who appeared in a few movies, was a regular on television variety shows and was married six times, staying active until near the end of his life with one of his last albums, Art Work, teaming him with organist Joey DeFrancesco.
Jack Jones is featured in 1966 singing “The Shadow Of Your Smile” and “What Now My Love.”
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald