Song:Being Alive
Album:Company: Original Broadway Cast
Though Dean Jones was best known for starring in Disney movies like The Love Bug, he had the singing talent to be a star on Broadway. He played Bobby in the 1970 musical Company. He was born Jan. 25, 1931 in Decatur, AL. While attending high school, he hosted is own radio show. After serving in the US Navy during the Korean War, Jones moved to Los Angeles and signed with MGM. His biggest role was as a DJ an the 1957 Elvis Presley film Jailhouse Rock. He also recorded a few singles for MGM. He made his Broadway debut starring with Jane Fonda in the 1960 show There Was A Little Girl. And he also appeared in Under The Yum Yum Tree. Jones also appeared in the film version of Under The Yum Yum Tree when he returned to Los Angeles. Jones recorded the 1963 album Introducing Dean Jones produced by Shorty Rogers. And he starred in the 1962 sitcom Ensign O'Toole. The show only lasted one season. Other than that he was doing mostly TV guest shots. But he got lucky. Ensign O'Toole led into The Wonderful World of Disney. Walt Disney saw Jones and cast him in the 1965 film That Darn Cat!. He starred in several Disney movies but he is probably best known for The Love Bug series of films. He also briefly hosted a variety show. And then he replaced Anthony Perkins to play Bobby in the 1970 Stephen Sondheim musical Company. He left after a month and was replaced by Larry Kert. But Jones appears on the original cast album and on D.A. Pennebaker's award winning documentary of the recording session. This was a pilot for a proposed TV series that unfortunately wasn't picked up. Being Alive is Jones' big song at the end of the show. It's not clear why Jones left but he was going through a divorce at the time. Jones returned to Los Angeles and continued to appear in Disney films until he became a Christian in 1974. He appeared in several religious films. Probably his best known later film appearance was in the 1992 film Beethoven. Dean Jones was named a Disney Legend in 1995. He died on Sept. 1, 2015 at age 84. Here's Dean Jones performing Being Alive in the 1970 documentary Company: Original Cast Album.
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