A timeless voice fades: Jack Jones, from ‘The Love Boat’ to Grammy glory

Remembering Jack Jones

The music world mourns the loss of Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner renowned for velvety hits like “Lollipops and Roses,” “Wives and Lovers,” and “The Impossible Dream.” As the voice that invited many to “set a course for adventure” on The Love Boat, Jones left an indelible mark on both the music and television industries.

The journey begins

Born John Allan Jones on January 14, 1938, Jack was destined for showbiz greatness. His mother, Irene Hervey, was an Emmy-nominated actress, while his father, tenor Allan Jones, starred in classics like Show Boat (1936) and A Night at the Opera (1935). It’s no wonder Jack followed in their illustrious footsteps.

Jones started recording demos in his teens, and by 1958, he was already performing alongside his father at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. His first recording contract with Capitol Records in 1959 led to his debut album, This Love of Mine, featuring the vibrant “This Could Be the Start of Something Big.”

A rise to fame

While Capitol Records aimed to mold Jones into a rockabilly star, it wasn’t until Kapp Records picked him up that his talents truly flourished. His rendition of “Lollipops and Roses,” recorded during a two-week leave from the U.S. Air Force Reserve, became a significant hit. The song reached No. 12 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and earned him a Grammy in 1962 for best male solo vocal performance.

Another wave of success came with “Wives and Lovers” in 1964, a buoyant Burt Bacharach-Hal David composition that further cemented his place in music history. Despite the song’s eventual controversy for its lyrical content, Jones cleverly adapted it to keep it relevant and respectful.

The love boat legacy

For many, Jack Jones will forever be linked with The Love Boat, a series that aired on ABC from 1977. Over eight seasons and more than 200 episodes, Jones’s distinctive voice invited viewers to embark on romantic adventures at sea with the catchy theme song, “Love, exciting and new. Come aboard, we’re expecting you.”

Jones humorously recalled his experiences on the show: “Because of The Love Boat theme, everything was great on ships after that,” Jones once said. “I did six weeks a year. They gave me the best suite on the ship, and it was the S.S. Norway. We just had a great time.”

A versatile talent

Jones wasn’t just confined to music and television. His playful cameo as a tuxedo-clad lounge singer in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) and his contribution to films like Demolition Man (1993) showcased his versatile talent. Jones also landed three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart: “The Race Is On” (1965), “The Impossible Dream” (1966), and “Lady” (1967).

His upbeat persona and charm carried him through numerous marriages and relationships, including those with actress Jill St. John and Susan George.

An enduring impact on soundtracks

Jack Jones’s voice became synonymous with the easy-listening 60s vibe that filmmakers sought to capture. His music features on the soundtracks for films such as Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Goodfellas (1990), and American Hustle (2013).

Personal reflections

A frequent Las Vegas headliner, Jones released over 50 albums throughout his career and continued to perform well into his 80s. Reflecting on his artistic philosophy, Jones once remarked, “I want a song to make the audience laugh or make it cry, make a very poignant statement. Like John Sebastian’s ‘I Had a Dream.’ The lyric starts, ‘I had a dream, I dreamed we were all, all right.’ That’s such a wonderful thought.”

Final days

Jones passed away at 86 after battling leukemia for two years. He died at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. He is survived by his wife, Eleonara, daughters Crystal and Nicole, stepdaughters Nicole Whitty and Colette, and his grandchildren.

Jack Jones’s voice and charm touched many lives, bridging generations with his romantic ballads and iconic TV themes. His legacy as a beloved crooner and performer will undoubtedly live on through his music, the thousands of souls who set sail with The Love Boat, and his indomitable spirit.

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