In 1966, the Monkees came barreling onto our television sets and quickly stole countless young viewers' hearts. Despite criticism from journalists claiming they weren't "a real band," they continued to break records with hit after hit, and even outsold both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the summer of 1967.
Though I was born long after their last episode aired, I couldn't help but fall in love with the zany group, too, when I discovered their show as a teen. While other kids my age were listening to Britney Spears and Beyoncé, I was traveling with my mom to see the Monkees' reunion tour where I was lucky enough to meet Davy Jones. He was just as sweet and charming as he seems in all those old episodes, and it remains one of the highlights of my life.
The English frontman got his start on London's West End and later on Broadway as the Artful Dodger in Oliver! when he was still a teen, but Jones had dreams of becoming a jockey before fame found him. His love for horses followed him the rest of his life, owning a farm with 14 steeds at the time of his death.
On February 29, 2012, Jones suffered a severe heart attack and tragically passed away. The sudden loss created a large hole in the iconic group that will celebrate it 50th anniversary later this year. Bandmate Mike Nesmith described Jones, saying, "For me, David was the Monkees. They were his band. We were his side men."
Let's remember Jones with the band's beautiful tune "Daydream Believer."
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