Prolific nightclub singer Jack Jones, whom Frank Sinatra once called “the new star of show business”, has died at the age of 86.

Jones died Wednesday night at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage after a two-year battle with leukemia, his manager, Milt Suchin, confirmed to The Los Angeles Times on Thursday. Suchin said Jones “passed away peacefully, holding hands with his wife, Eleonora, and his beloved toy poodle, Ivy.”

The Grammy-winning baritone, who has released more than 50 albums throughout his career, is best known for his performances. theme song for the ABC comedy “The Love Boat,” which ran for nine seasons from 1977 to 1986. Originally released as a single in 1979, the B-side featured Jones’ cover of Barry Manilow’s “Ready to Take a Chance Again”. ‘ The disco-like tune has been covered by entertainers such as Charo and Olivia Newton-John.

Also an actor, Jones’ credits include 1959’s “Juke Box Rhythm,” the 1978 horror film “The Comeback” and the 2002 TV movie “Cruise of the Gods.” She even starred as a nightclub singer in the 2013 movie “American Hustle.”

Jones, once considered Sinatra’s heir apparent Narrated by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself as “the best potential singer in the industry”. “He has an all-round quality and distinction that potentially puts him around three lengths ahead of other players.”

In addition to two Grammys, Jones was also honored with stars on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Hollywood Walk of Fame.

John Allan Jones was born in Hollywood on January 14, 1938, to singer Allan Jones and Emmy-nominated actress Irene Harvey. According to Jones, that was the day his father recorded his hit “Donkey Serenade,” which starred the elder Jones in the 1937 musical “The Firefly.” website.

Jones attended University High School in West Los Angeles while studying drama and singing with private tutors hired by her father. One of her fondest high school memories was the day her friend Nancy Sinatra invited her father to sing in the school auditorium. This experience solidified Jones’ desire to become a professional singer.

A few weeks after his high school graduation in 1957, Jones made his professional debut as part of his father’s show, first in Elko, Nevada, and then at Las Vegas’ Thunderbird Hotel. Shortly after, he left alone.

His first break came when a demo he recorded for songwriter Don Raye reached Capitol Records, which signed the newcomer in 1959. There he released his first album “This Love of Mine”. Desert Sun reported.

Following creative differences with her former label, Jones moved to Kapp Records, where she released her first hit single, “Lollipops and Roses” in 1961. This track earned her her first Grammy Award for best solo vocal performance in 1962.

Jones was still working his “day job” as a gas station attendant when he released his first album with Kapp, and one day while washing a customer’s windshield he was delighted to hear his song playing on the radio. She released 19 albums with Kapp Records and later won another Grammy for her 1963 single “Wives and Lovers”; this single reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Jones told Kapp to “put the melody on the B side of the single.” Los Angeles Times In 1993, “but the disc jockeys turned it over and played it anyway.”

After the song garnered criticism for its “politically incorrect” themes, Jones told The Times that she replaced the lyrics “Hey little girl, do your hair, fix your make-up” with the alternative lyrics “Hey little girl, cover your teeth, fix your make-up”. hairpiece.”

In the late 1960s, Jones moved to RCA Victor and transitioned to a more contemporary sound. His album “A Time for Us” (1969) includes covers of famous songwriters such as Randy Newman, Carole King and Gilbert O’Sullivan.

Having quit his smoking habit in 1980, Jones kept his smooth singing voice under control until his 80s, performing regularly at casino nightclubs. Washington Post reported.

Jones, who has lived in the Coachella Valley for the past several decades, received a star in the Palm Springs Star Walk in 2003. He joked that while celebrating his 80th birthday at Palm Desert’s McCallum Theater in 2018, many of his singing “rivals” said the deceased’s ambition was “to be the best singer in the world by default,” The Desert Sun reported.

Jones is survived by his wife, Eleonora Donata Peters, and step-daughters, Nicole Whitty and Colette Peters; Crystal Thomas, his daughter from his marriage to Katie Lee Nuckols; daughter Nicole Ramasco from his marriage to Kim Ely; and three grandchildren.

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