Spike Jones Obituary: May 1, 1965

The Deseret News – May 1, 1965

Spike Jones Dies InBeverly Hills

BEVERLY HILLS CALIF. (UPI)—Spike Jones, a madcap bandleader who made a fortune with his zany music, died Saturday at the age of 53 in his home here.

Jones died shortly after midnight. A family spokesman said Jones died in his sleep. His wife, singer Helen Grayco, and a nurse were at his bedside.

Miss Grayco said he complained of a headache Friday morning and his physician ordered him to take some medication.

The nurse who lived at Jones’ residence summoned the doctor shortly before midnight when she noticed his pulse was irregular Jones died before the doctor arrived.

TAKES RIDE

Jones’ sister-in-law, Mrs. Teresa Digioia, said Jones was out for a car ride Friday afternoon and “was feeling fine at that time.”

First reports indicated Jones died of a heard condition. He had been home from the Santa Monica Hospital three weeks. He was hospitalized March 30 with complication following an asthmatic attack earlier this year.

Jones whose real name Lindley Armstrong Jones, was born in Long Beach, Calif., Dec. 14, 1911.

His first experience with music was at the age of 10 when a railroad cook whittled a pair of drumsticks from some wooden chair legs for him.

LED BAND

Jones was drum major of a 90-piece band in his early high sic after hearing a pair of squeaky shoes during a number with a legitimate band. He said later that he began wondering why mistakes couldn’t be made in music to get laughs, the same way talking comedians make grammatical errors.

SHOW WAS HIT

Jones gathered a group of musician friends and they practiced their first and they practiced their first songs with gunshots substituted for trumpet notes and auto horns for piano.

In 1942 Jones broadcast his first musical radio show with his own band. The broadcast included instruments never before heard of in connection with any kind of music, and the congratu- school years, and headed a band called Spike Jones and hi five tacks in his final high school years.

After he graduated from high school. Jones attended Chaffee.

Junior College for two years. he then began playing with some of Hollywoods name bands. He played with such names as Bing Crosby. Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and Burns and Allen

Jones broke into the zany mulatory telegrams were pouring into the network before the show was completed. Among the wires were several contract offers, and Lindley Armstrong Jones was on his way.

During the years, he added other “musical instruments” including gold plated cow bells, kitchen utensils, anvils, automobile horns, small cannons, bird calls, dog barks, hiccoughs and sneezes.