JOHN DONVAN, HOST:
We have news this afternoon that Davy Jones, the former Hollywood heartthrob and the lead singer of The Monkees, has died. He was 66 years old and died of a heart attack. Jones was born in Manchester, England. He raced horses before he turned to acting. And in 1965, he, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz were put together as a singing group known as The Monkees. The band played together for about five years before Jones left the group in 1970, then he went on to his own recording career, but he will always be best known for songs like "I Wanna Be Free" and this hit from 1968, "Daydream Believer."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DAYDREAM BELIEVER")
CHIP DOUGLAS: 7A.
DAVY JONES: What number is this, Chip?
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: 7A.
JONES: OK. I mean, don't get excited, man. It's just because I'm short, I know.
(Singing) Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings of the bluebird as she sings. The 6 o'clock alarm would never ring. But six rings and I rise, wipe the sleep out of my eyes. My shaving razor's cold, and it stings. Cheer up, sleepy Jean. Oh, what can it mean to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?
DONVAN: Lead singer Davy Jones and The Monkees. Jones died today at the age of 66.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DAYDREAM BELIEVER")
JONES: (Singing) As a white knight on a steed. Now, you know how happy I can be. Oh, and our good times starts and end without dollar one to spend. But how much, baby, do we really need? Cheer up, sleepy Jean. Oh, what can it mean to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen? Cheer up, sleepy Jean. Oh, what can it mean to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?
DONVAN: Davy Jones. Well, tomorrow, what makes some people speak out against injustice while others stay silent? We'll be talking about it tomorrow in this hour. This is TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. I'm John Donvan in Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.