An American idol in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Among the top international singers of the ‘60s, Jack Jones was widely acclaimed as the brightest and most accomplished by critics and fellow artists alike.

With his smooth, powerful voice, plus his good looks, charm and wit, he swept millions of fans off their feet with his dozens of breathtaking hits throughout his long, illustrious career spanning more than 50 years.

Today, at an age and time when singers from that golden decade have all but faded into distant memory, Jack Jones and his songs have remained popular as he continues to perform in concerts throughout the world, the brilliance of his vocal prowess hardly dimmed by the years..

Jack Jones still stands a cut above the rest.                                             

Jones, one of the most popular vocalists of the ‘60s, will charm local fans with his marvelous voice and style when he comes to Manila for his much-awaited concert on Oct. 16 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

To be featured as special guests are Pinoy singing legends The Tiongco Brothers and balladeer Arthur Manuntag.

The two-day tour to be mounted by Ovation Productions will kick off with a show on Oct. 15 at the Waterfront Hotel-Cebu.

Titled Jack Jones Greatest Hits Tour, the musical event will showcase the breadth and diversity of talent of the American idol who rose to fame with his distinctive music that blends vocal standards from traditional pop with swinging renditions of contemporary pop and rock hits.

He will enthrall the audience during the two-hour with a string of his greatest hits such as She, The Love Boat Theme, The Impossible Dream, What I Did For Love, Wives And Lovers, Free Again and If You Go Away.

Other all-time favorites he will sing are The Shadow Of Your Smile, With One More Look At You, As Time Goes By, Strangers In The Night, Call Me Irresponsible, Lollipops And Roses, and many more.

Jack Jones was practically born and raised in a musical and show business environment, having as parents romantic lead actor and recording artist Allan Jones and actress Irene Harvey.

After studying music in high school, he made his professional debut at 19 by joining his father’s act at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas until he went on his own three weeks later.

In 1961, he was discovered by producer Pete King and signed with Kapp Records, where he recorded the ballad, Lollipops and Roses, a composition by Anthony Velona which became a hit the following year and earned for him a Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance.

His star continued to rise after recording his biggest pop hit, Wives And Lovers (1964), by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, which also won for him a Grammy Award for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance. His recording of the single was likewise nominated for Record of the Year.

As his career gained momentum, Jones had the rare opportunity to record works by the greatest balladeers of all time: Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen, Cole Porter, the Gershins, Harold Arlen, Michel Legrand and Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

He also found inspiration in great jazz instrumentalists he discovered during his teen years, such as Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Buddy Rich, Bob Brookmeyer, Dave Pell Octet, Marty Paiche Dectet, Shorty Rogers and the Giants and Count Basie.

Although Jones has been recording only sporadically since 1980, his subsequent recordings have always elicited wide interest and attention, such as his 1982 Applause Records album that featured covers of songs by The Beatles, Billy Joel, The Eagles and others.

In his recent release for Honest Entertainment, Jack Jones Paints A Tribute To Tony Bennett, he pays homage to a friend and an American icon whom he counts as among the vocalists who most influenced his style (along with Mel Torme, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstein and Frank Sinatra). 

The album, which contains some of Bennett’s signature songs (including three of Jones’ personal Bennett favorites, Skylark, Shadow Of Your Smile and You Must Believe In Spring), was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and Record of The Year.

Jones has also gained renown as a leading interpreter of musical theater, with critically-acclaimed performances in Guys And Dolls, South Pacific, She Loves Me and Pajama Game. Most recently, he went on national tour, performing the role of Don Quijote in Man Of La Mancha.

The Jack Jones Greatest Hits Tour is produced by Ovation Productions and sponsored by The Rockwell Club, etc Entertainment Channel, 2^nd Avenue, Diva Universal, RJ 100.3 FM, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Mercedes-Benz and ABS-CBN.

It is also supported by The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, 103.5 Wow Radio, 94.7 Mellow, 97.9 Home Radio, RX 93.1 Monster Radio, DWBR 104.3, 105.1 Crossover and OptimaSignsolutions.

(Tickets are priced at P4,500, P4,000, P3,500, P2,500, P1,000 and P500 and are available at Ticketnet outlets at all SM Department Stores and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket office. For reservations and inquiries, call Ticketnet at 911-5555.)