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Jack Jones, the Grammy-winning singer who performed the theme to ABC’s The Love Boat, died on October 23, 2024, at age 86. The Associated Press reported that he died at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, after battling leukemia for more than two years, citing his manager, Milt Suchin. The Washington Post also reported leukemia complications, citing his wife, Eleonora.
What was Jack Jones known for?
Jones became familiar to television audiences as the singer of The Love Boat theme, but that association was only one part of a long recording career. Born John Allan Jones in Los Angeles on January 14, 1938, he was the son of singer and actor Allan Jones and actress Irene Hervey. The Guardian and a Hollywood Reporter obituary hosted on Jones’s official website give January 14 as his birthday; the Television Academy biography lists September 14 instead.
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Jones signed his first recording contract with Capitol Records in 1959 and released his debut album, This Love of Mine. He later moved to Kapp Records, where “Lollipops and Roses” became a breakthrough recording. The Hollywood Reporter obituary hosted on his official website says he released more than 50 albums; The Guardian describes a catalog of 60.
How did his career extend beyond The Love Boat?
Two Grammy-winning recordings
Jones won Grammy Awards for “Lollipops and Roses” and “Wives and Lovers.” The Guardian dates the awards to 1962 and 1964, respectively. Both were recognized for vocal performance, establishing a legacy that predated his best-known television work.
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Adult Contemporary chart success
The Guardian reports that Jones had three No. 1 singles on the Adult Contemporary chart: “The Race Is On” in 1965, “The Impossible Dream” in 1966, and “Lady” in 1967. Other well-known recordings included “Call Me Irresponsible” and “Wives and Lovers.”
What was his connection to The Love Boat?
Jones began singing the theme when the ABC series launched in 1977. The song was written by Charles Fox and Paul Williams. According to the Hollywood Reporter obituary hosted on Jones’s official website, he performed it for eight seasons and more than 200 episodes; Dionne Warwick took over the theme in season nine. The song was released as a single in 1979, and the Associated Press reports that it reached No. 37 on Billboard’s U.S. Adult Contemporary chart in 1980.
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Jones later recalled his uncertainty about the show’s premise: “I said ‘I don’t know who’s gonna watch a show about a cruise ship’, but they did and here we are. I had no idea.” He also said, “Any singer loves to have a theme song that goes on and on.” The Guardian published both reflections in its obituary.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Jack Jones record later in life?
Jones continued making music in his later years. The Guardian reports that his 2023 album, ArtWork, was made with trumpeter Joey DeFrancesco. His career thus stretched from late-1950s recordings through a final-period album, alongside the enduring television theme that introduced him to a different generation of listeners.
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