Re-posting for leap day history!
Most of us remember Davy Jones as the front man for the group The Monkees, a teenage heartthrob, from the Brady Bunch, etc. For true Disney Fans, we remember Davy as one of the most beloved performers during the Flower Power Concert Series at Epcot’s yearly Flower and Garden Festival. He was a fan favorite, and a staple for the concerts each year. The fans loved him, and he truly loved his fans back. On February 29th 2012, Davy Jones unexpectedly died of a heart attack. He was 66. It’s a little ironic that Davy passed on the 29th, being that Disney pushed their “one more day” campaign that year in honor of Leap Year. Very sad.
In addition to the loss felt for Davy Jones through the Disney Community, I think a lot of us lost a piece of our childhood that day too. Davy Jones was the first big teen dream for young girls everywhere. He was my first crush too. I remember when I was 6 years old, I went on a vacation to Clearwater Beach with my family. Even at that age, I refused to join everyone down at the beach until after The Monkees were over on tv. As a little girl, watching Davy Jones, I had no idea the series was old, and Davy Jones wasn’t that cute 20 something boy anymore. In my mind, he was that guy, and still is when I think of him. In the 80’s, MTV used to run Monkee Marathons on Saturday’s, where they would show back to back episodes of the short lived television series. This was a chance for my generation to get familiar with what The Monkees show was all about. Was it silly humor? Yep. Did people love it? Oh yes.
The Monkees never really went away. They always had a dedicated fan base. In addition to his long career in music – with a string of hits that included “Daydream Believer” and “I’m a Believer” – as I said previously, Jones was a Disney fan favorite at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival concerts. Davy Jones was a regular part of the lineup, where he would play a combination of Monkees’ hits and his own music. As a matter of fact, he was also slated to appear at last year’s Flower Power concerts May 18 – 20, 2012. Because of his untimely and shocking death, Disney had to suspend the concert lineup temporarily. Shortly after his passing, Disney replaced Davy Jones with his band mate and longtime friend, Micky Dolenz, to play the concert in May. Micky Dolenz payed tribute to Davy Jones during his performance, fans were touched, as well as saddened from the loss.
Jones found an enthusiastic audience for his performances in the Flower Power concert series. People still loved him, even after all of these years. He brought nostalgia and memories to so many. Davy Jones lived in Florida, and truly loved performing at Epcot. It must have made him feel good to get that kind of response from his fans, and to still have screaming girls coming to see him at Epcot! I know for me, his death hit home. When I found out that Davy Jones had passed away, I didn’t believe it. I had to go look it up to see if it was true and what had happened. When I saw that it was confirmed, I cried. My first crush was gone. So many of us had a little bit of hurt in our hearts that day. Twitter messages ran rampant through the Disney Community. Facebook too. The response was amazing and touching to see.
When I was younger, I never thought that two of my favorites, Disney and Davy Jones, would ever have a connection. But they do, and that’s pretty awesome. My only regret is that I never got to see Davy perform in person at Epcot. I watched the videos, but it’s not the same. Now being in my 30’s, I think that I look at things so differently, and take things to heart more. Life is short, and every day is a gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted. I never knew Davy Jones personally, but in a certain sense, I did. A lot of us did. He represented so much, and made so many people feel happy. Micky Dolenz performed that year at Epcot in Davy’s honor, but it of course wasn’t the same. There was only one Davy Jones, and I think I speak for many former teenage girls when I say that he will always be missed. Thank you Davy Jones, for being part of the soundtrack of my youth, and for being part of the magic that is Disney.
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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