‘The Love Boat’ Singer Passed Away At 86

Wikipedia

Jack Jones, the Grammy-winning artist known for singing the theme song of the classic series The Love Boat, has passed away at the age of 86. The singer died on Wednesday, October 23, at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California, following a two-year battle with leukemia. His stepdaughter, Nicole Whitty, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jack Jones, born John Allan Jones on January 14, 1938, in Hollywood, California, was a celebrated American singer known for his smooth baritone voice. The son of actor-singer Allan Jones and actress Irene Hervey, Jones was destined for a life in the spotlight.

Jones’s professional music career took off in the early 1960s with his signing to Kapp Records. His early albums showcased his natural flair for romantic ballads, and in 1962, he achieved his first major hit with “Lollipops and Roses,” which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. He won another Grammy in 1964 for his rendition of “Wives and Lovers.”

Known for his ability to blend jazz, pop, and easy-listening music, Jones recorded a string of successful albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including Dear Heart and The Impossible Dream.

Beyond his success as a recording artist, Jones was also known for his television and film work. His voice became immortalized in popular culture when he performed the theme song for The Love Boat, the hit television series that aired from 1977 to 1986. Also, he made notable film appearances in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) and American Hustle (2013).

Though the peak of his chart success slowed down in the 1980s, Jones continued to perform, recording new material and touring worldwide. His later career saw him embrace a more jazz-oriented repertoire.

Despite his fame, Jones’s personal life was often low-key. He was married several times and is survived by his children and stepchildren, including step daughter Nicole Whitty.

Rest in Peace.