http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-fLLuQgIss

So saddened by Davy Jones' death. When he appeared in "Oliver" on Broadway, we saw him.
We LOVED HIM! He was a total scene stealer but in a good way -- with a great amount of gusto and sincere enjoyment in the acting of his part, the Artful Dodger. If you look at this video above, which unfortunately I am unable to embed--but it worth going to-- I am certain that you will see how charismatic and adorable he was even at his young age. I want to add that Georgia Brown was the most amazing actress I had seen at that time. She was glorious. It was a great show. "Oliver" ran a long time on Broadway. when we, in Lawrence, Long Island,(a town "only forty-five minutes from Broadway") heard that Davy wanted to join one of our impromptu soccer games which were held on an impromptu basis, held on a really crappy, scurvy field which was owned by a selection of our "group of people" who lived on the Isle of Wight, everyone was really excited. Davy Jones was already a celebrity at that point, and no one thought he would show up. We didn't realize that they enjoy soccer as much as they do, over the pond. Well I think that is why he came out. Not sure. Anyway. I MISSED THE GAME AND THEREFORE MISSED MY CHANCE TO MEET DAVY JONES. Later on, I loved the TV show The Monkees. I was the perfect age for it, and I watched it every week. I didn't adore their music, but I thought they were very funny. Davy Jones was a very good looking kid and grew up to be a very handsome man. The ultimate performer, he lived life to the fullest, and I am REALLY sorry that I didn't get the chance to meet him. OF COURSE I HAD A CRUSH ON HIM. What teenage girl didn't at that time?
Ironically, my next teenage crush was on David McCallum (now in NCIS) when he was playing Ilya Kuryakin on the Man from U.N.C.L.E. with Robert Vaughn (whom Jim sees all the time in the grocery store--so much so, that we kid around that Robert Vaughn is stalking Jim!). I had a dreamy scrapbook of David McCallum's every photo, with a Princess picture on the front with a rhinestone crown! It was stuffed to the gills with articles and fan photos of David McCallum. Oddly he married the supermodel from our town who is his second wife and MOVED near to our town. It was kookie. I did meet him at a party! When I met him, I stood there speechless as my older sister told him all about my scrapbook, and how I owned his album, "My Favorite Oboe Songs" or whatever it was called. He played some arcane instrument along the lines of that, and had a giant hit album because he was so sexy to teenage girls on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. As my sister bubbled on vivaciously to him about my most private secrets, he grew more and more pale and uncomfortable, I am certain he was horrified. and I ....  I almost passed out from the uncoolness of it all.
At that point I was in my twenties! Oh brother!
"Dear Mr.McCallum. I think you are a great actor, Sincerely, Jeannie Baldridge."
That was probably the weirdest fan letter he ever got when I wrote to him. I had been raised to be so polite, how could he ever know he was the guy I wanted to run away from home with at 16, early in my crush.
I am sorry I threw in this other reminiscence in this paeon to Davy Jones.
But I must admit those foreign guys, whether British or Scottish, have that je ne sais quois that cannot be equalled by us, here in America, with our dopey American accents and unchivalrous ways.

God Bless you Davy Jones. I will be thinking of you tonight with the greatest respect and love. Sincerely, Jeannie Baldridge.