|
Recording artist and Monkees alumnus Micky Dolenz
Photo: Walt Disney World Publicity
Larger | More
|
|
|
Sign Up for Email News Updates!
|
|
by Alan McBride
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. -- The weekend of May 18-20, Monkees star and recording artist Micky Dolenz is appearing at Disney's Epcot center as part of the spring concert series for the park.
Disney, in concert with the annual Flower and Garden Festival, brings popular and familiar entertainers to the bandshell at Epcot's American Pavilion. The park has been booking acts, both current and classic, since its opening.
This month, Dolenz, veteran of what was both a TV sensation and pop music group, will be appearing on behalf of an absent friend.
Davy Jones had been booked to perform at Epcot; but was lost earlier this year to a heart attack.
Dolenz says he considers it an honor to be able to represent his friend; even as he admits it's hard to wrap his mind fully around the loss.
"The way I describe it to people, frankly, is like losing a sibling ... losing a brother," he said. "I have three sisters, and I actually spent more time with David, probably, than I did with some of my siblings after I left home."
Dolenz may be best known for his antics with Jones and other Monkees Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith, but his career in show business began years earlier. He was a star in the TV series "Circus Boy," working under the name Micky Braddock when he was 10 years old.
His career has also spanned London's West End and work both behind the scenes and off-Broadway in New York.
He continues his solo recording career, with original songs as well as standards which are an homage to Carol King; best exemplified in his CD "King for a Day."
A new CD, titled "Chapters," is set for release in the coming months; and he describes the original work there as representing chapters in his own life. It's autobiographical, but still upbeat ... and one still will find what has been described as the trademark impish wit that's part and parcel to Dolenz's outlook.
He says his time with the Monkees, as well as his tours with Jones and Tork, rank up there with his favorite times.
As far as the Monkees are concerned, Dolenz is especially fond of the work done on the TV series and with the songs, noting that they were the fortunate sons; beneficiaries of a great deal of hard work that was done by talented songwriters and script writers.
"Obviously, I'd like to think it had something to do with the four of us," he chuckles, but he adds that "you gotta count yourself lucky that you're part of a project" that had so many talented people involved.
He says he will be dedicating his concerts at Disney's Epcot Center, May 18-20, to Davy Jones.
He'll be singing the hits that people remember from the series and the records, and he says he hopes that the people who see the performances will walk away grinning just a bit more at the memories.
Dolenz says he's looking forward to getting on stage and celebrating all the memories with everybody.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas Prices
Click
here for an interactive map!
|
|
