Spike Jones

Spike Jones (December 14, 1911 - May 1, 1965) was a popular musician/comedian. He was born Lindley Armstrong Jones in Long Beach, California. He became a drummer and bandleader, initially supporting such performers as Al Jolson on the Kraft Music Hall radio programme, then in his own band The City Slickers.

The City Slickers created and performed a series of anarchic, cacophonous parodies of popular songs. An early success was "Der Fuehrer's Face". "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" was a number one hit in 1948.

Other band members were George Rock (voice and trumpet), Doodles Weaver (voice) and Red Ingle (voice).

Jones's wife was the singer Helen Grayco, who performed on some of his radio shows.

Some other well-known tracks included:

• "Cocktails for Two"
• "William Tell Overture"
• "That Old Black Magic"
• "The Blue Danube"
• "The Sheik of Araby"
• "You Always Hurt the One You Love"

Some modern reissues of Spike Jones recordings suffer from poor sound quality. A useful and well-remastered compilation is The Spike Jones Anthology (Rhino, 1994), which was co-produced by Dr. Demento.

Sources

Notes by Peter Gamble from Clink Clink Another Drink CD by Audio Book & Music Company, ABMMCD 1158.

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Spike Jones should not be confused with Spike Jonze the music video and film director.