"Monkees" Lead Singer Davy Jones Dead In Florida
By David Madden
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A bit of '60s pop history is gone, with word from South Florida of the death of Monkees' lead singer Davy Jones, the victim of a heart attack at age 66 (see detailed story).
Philadelphia and South Jersey radio legend Jerry Blavat played a role in "Some Like It Lukewarm," an episode from the Monkees' TV show back in their heyday.
(clip of Jerry Blavat from TV show:) "Miss Jones? The Geator here. The big boss with the big hot sauce. Jerry Blavat, Miss Jones."
It replayed on cable this past weekend.
VIEW: 98.1 WOGL Coverage Of Jones' Life and Death
As for what the group meant in the scheme of rock and roll, Blavat says, "The Monkees will be remembered as the alternative of what the Beatles were -- the Monkeees were to our country what the Beatles were (to Britain)."
Jones also raised horses in Lancaster County, Pa., and came to the region often.
Tommy McCarthy, music director at our sister station WOGL, met with Jones last fall in Maryland and remembered him in perfect health. Looking at the group, "they may not have the stature of a Bob Dylan or an Elvis or the Rolling Stones, but definitely a pop icon."
He'd often team up with bandmates Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork for reunion tours, most recently last summer -- but former cohort Michael Nesmith never joined in.
