Girls swooned when Davy Jones crooned.
The giddiest of all: Marcia Brady, who bragged that she could convince "The Monkees" pop star to sing at her school dance. (Who can forget the poncho-clad eldest sibling making her pitch to Jones?)
The "Getting Davy Jones" episode of "The Brady Bunch" aired in 1971 – three years after "The Monkees" TV show ended but in an era when the crooner remained a bona fide heartthrob.
Like so many teen idols, he seemed unthreatening. He was 5-foot-4 with a cherubic face. And he sang cheery, catchy tunes. (Just try to name a midlifer who can't hum "Daydream Believer.")
Contrary to popular belief, Jones was not an overnight sensation. When he was a teenager, he played the Artful Dodger in the musical "Oliver!" (both in London and on Broadway). During that run, he memorably sang "Consider Yourself" (yet another jaunty tune, which he still performed in recent years).
Lucky on stage, Jones had a worse track record when it came to love. He divorced his first two wives but at his death was still married to Telemundo star Jessica Pacheco, who was half his age. He dismissed rumors of a physically volatile relationship.
In fact, he preferred to tell stories of their love for each other. Last May Jones told the Daily Mail how he fell for Pacheco. She said: "Let's run upstairs and make love." He replied: "At my age, it's going to have to be one or the other."
His biggest love? Horses. In 1994 Jones told the Louisville, Ky., Courier-Journal that he would rather ride than perform. In fact, he continued to ride throughout his life. On his farm in Indiantown, Florida, he galloped his steeds around his one-mile track. He also owned a horse, named Indiantown Jones, who raced between 2003 and 2006.
Jones leaves behind his third wife, his horses, his four daughters – Talia, 43, Sarah, 40, Jessica, 30, and Annabel, 33 – and legions of fans.
Meanwhile, If your kids don't understand why his death is a big deal, just show them the cutest Monkee in action, bouncing as he smiles and sings, "I Wanna Be Free." Sorry, Justin Bieber. Jones was a bigger heartthrob – with better hair.
For more about Davy Jones, read:
Teen Idols from Our Youth: Look at Them Now (Part 3)
For more about celebrity men who married younger women, read:
