Some Music February 29 Trivia

Unfortunately, when I think of any connections between February 29 and pop music, the first thing that comes to mind is that Davy Jones died on this date in 2012. Davy Jones was a member of The Monkees, the band that starred in a sitcom from 1966-1968 and several hit records during that time period. While their peak period of success lasted only two years, their music and TV shows have endured over the years. Sadly, another Monkee, Peter Tork, died in February 2019. The other two Monkees, Mike Nesmith, who shares Davy Jones' December 30 birthday, and Micky Dolenz, are still performing. Dolenz even appeared in my neck of the woods a week ago, but I wasn't able to attend that show. I have seen him perform multiple times in recent years.

Davy Jones sang lead on a few of the Monkees' hit records, including "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You", which was written by Neil Diamond.

The other Monkees didn't want to do this song, so they walked out ("guys, don't you walk out, we've got a song to sing", to paraphrase some lyrics to this song). The Monkees were trying to get more control over their music, including playing their own instruments. So not only was Davy Jones singing lead on this record, he was the only Monkee singing on it. The other voices are said to belong to Carole King (whose own recording career hadn't taken off yet) and Neil Diamond himself.

Another famous Monkees song with Davy Jones on lead vocal is "Daydream Believer" (not to be confused with another of their hits, "I'm a Believer", on which Micky sang lead and which was also written by Neil Diamond).

This one features all four Monkees, probably with Micky, Mike, and Peter playing instruments.

A fact you may not know about Davy Jones is that before he came to the U.S. from his native England, he played the Artful Dodger in the original stage production of Oliver! in London. He then reprised his role in the original Broadway production of this musical. But when it was time to make the movie version, he was probably too busy with the Monkees to be the Artful Dodger once again. The role went to another English actor/singer, Jack Wild. The producers of the Oliver! movie must have done a lot of things right because it got the Best Picture Oscar for 1968. Unfortunately, Jack Wild died on March 1, 2006. Yes, just like Davy Jones, he passed away on the day after February 28. And just like Davy, he was born on the 30th of the month, in September.

There was once a Major League baseball player named Davy Jones. He was an outfielder who played in 1901-1904, 1906-1913, and 1918 for six different teams including the Pittsburgh Rebels of the short-lived Federal League. This Davy Jones was born and died on the 30th of the month: He was born on June 30, 1880, and died on March 30, 1972.

Speaking of Oliver!, Davy Jones and other cast members appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. This particular episode of this show is most famous for being the one in which the Beatles made their American TV debut. February 1964, like February 2020, had five Saturdays. This only happens every 28 years. Thus it also happened in 1992 and will happen again in 2048. Since 1962, the Billboard charts have had Saturday dates. During the height of Beatlemania, their song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" held down the #1 spot on the Hot 100 all five weeks in February 1964.

In 1960, the Billboard charts bore Monday dates, and February 29 fell on a Monday that year. The #1 song that week was "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'" by Percy Faith.

Now on to music people born on February 29. Adam Sandler noted in "The Chanukah Song" that Dinah Shore lit candles on the menorah. Every four years, she could have blown out the candles on her birthday cake, since she was born on February 29, 1916. Here's her biggest hit record, "Buttons and Bows", which won the Best Song Oscar for 1948, when it was sung by Bob Hope in The Paleface.

Gretchen Christopher of the group the Fleetwoods was born on February 29, 1940. Here is one of the group's biggest hits, "Come Softly to Me".

In the classical music field, composer Gioachino Rossini was born on February 29, 1792. One of his most famous compositions is the "William Tell Overture". This piece has been adapted into several popular music pieces, including:

The theme song to the radio and TV show The Lone Ranger:

A hit song by Patti Page, "Now That I'm In Love":

The song "Happy Anniversary" performed on The Flintstones:

The instrumental break of "The Lone Teen Ranger", performed by Paul Simon under the name of Jerry Landis, a few years before he had hits as half of Simon and Garfunkel:

And finally a superb guitar instrumental by Glen Campbell: