Biography for
Spike Jones (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 December 1911, Long Beach, California, USA

Date of Death

1 May 1965, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (emphysema)

Birth Name

Lindley Armstrong Jones

Spouse

Helen Grayco	(18 July 1948 - 1 May 1965) (his death) 3 children
Patricia Middleton	(7 September 1935 - 1946) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Known for his madcap comical musical arrangements and lyrics.

Got his nickname from his dad's co-workers on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Had an unusual hobby as a young adult of collecting junk that made odd, funny noises, which started the orchestra leader off on his wild and wooly career that would feature everything from cowbells to toilet plungers.

WWII audiences embraced Spike and his City Slickers ("the Band who played for fun") for their delicious parodies of popular songs; some of their best being "Der Fuehrer's Face", "Cocktails for Two", which included a chorus of hiccupping, and "You Always Hurt the One You Love", which was dominated by a series of shootings, hangings and poisonings.

"The Spike Jones Show" (1954) on TV in the 50s featured Spike's wife, Helen Grayco, who had been singing with the band since the 1940s.

Spike reportedly got his idea for demented re-workings of popular songs after hearing the squeaking shoes of an orchestra conductor during a live broadcast of a symphony performance.

Began his career as a top studio drummer, working on several Bing Crosby sessions and as a percussionist on the The Wizard of Oz (1939) soundtrack, among many other assignments.

Prolific recording artist, primarily for RCA Victor, Verve, and Liberty records, his hits included "Der Fuhrer's Face," "Cocktails for Two," "Chlo-e," "Dance of the Hours," "Pal-Yat-Chee" (with Homer and Jethro), "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," and "Washington Square."

Father of Spike Jones Jr.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 229-230. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

Grandfather of Alexandra Selsman Hughes

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6290 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.