Davy Jones

Davy Jones, an actor and singer, was born David Jones on December 30, 1945 in Manchester, England. His father had hopes for him as a jockey, but Jones was more interested in being in show business, and as a teenager he appeared on British soap operas, including "Coronation Street." He appeared to great acclaim in the musical "Oliver!" as the Artful Dodger, playing the role both in London and on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony Award. (When the film of the musical was made in 1968, Jones was at the height of his success with the Monkees and too heavily committed to take the part.) He then toured in another musical adaptation of a Charles Dickens classic, "Pickwick," and did some American television as well as recording three singles.

From 1966 to 1970 Jones was a member of The Monkees, a pop-rock group formed to portray a similar group on the television sitcom also called "The Monkees." He sang lead vocals on many of the groups songs, including one of their biggest hits, "Daydream Believer." After the show went off the air and the group disbanded, he continued to perform solo, later joining with fellow-Monkee Micky Dolenz and songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart as a short-lived group. He has since performed with his former bandmates in reunion tours and has appeared in several productions of "Oliver!" as Fagin. He has also continued to race horses with some success in his native England.