Three Things You Probably Didn't Know About Davy Jones

Davy Jones, once upon a time from The Monkees, died yesterday at the age of 66.  The band's musical success -- I believe they had a #1 hit before the television show hit the airwaves -- inspired a friend and I to spawn our first band in the sixth grade.

Here's three things you probably didn't know about him:

1.  He appeared on the same stage as The Beatles for their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.  Not at the same moment, however.  Jones, who had originated the role of Artful Dodger in London, appeared with the Broadway cast of Oliver!  Jones was subsequently nominated for a Tony Award.

2.  Inspired by the reception that The Beatles received, David Jones soon signed a recording contract that resulted in a eponymously named solo album.  This caused a different David Jones to change his name ... to David Bowie (after the inventor of the Bowie knife).

3.  Several of the Monkees saw Jimi Hendrix perform in London and again at the Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967.  The band contacted Hendrix' agent for him to be the opening act for the Monkees that year.  This lasted a total of seven concerts, when Hendrix decided to drop out of the tour.