Donna Jones (singer)
Donna Jones (born Doreen Jones,[1] 8 April 1949 in Manchester[2]) is an English performer best known for her work as Pussyfoot in the 1970s, and as a member of The New Seekers since February 1979.[2]
Music career
Chrys-Do-Lyns (1963–1965)
Donna started her singing career in 1963 as part of an all girl trio called "The Chrys-Do-Lyns" (named after the three members). The trio comprised Christine Lowe, Doreen Jones (Donna Jones), and one-time "New Seeker" Linda Susan Belcher (Lyn Paul). They performed in clubs throughout the UK, and also in Italy, France and Germany before splitting up in 1965.[1][2][3]
Photos of The Chrys-Do-Lyns: ,
1965–1972
Donna then went solo. She became resident singer at a Manchester night club, "Mr. Smiths", and subsequently performed in Granada TV's "First Timers" where she was awarded "Best Female Singer". This led to a recording contract with MCA where Donna recorded 'Heaven Held'.[3]
She met Francine Rees[4] and Francine's husband Roger Walburn singing in the Manchester Mecca club and they subsequently played as the resident house group at the Manchester club and its sister club in Blackpool.[3] (Francine became a member of The New Seekers in 2002.[4])
Springfield Revival
In 1972, Mick Flinn, Ray Martin,[5] and Donna Jones formed the "Springfield Revival". They were extremely successful, appearing on television shows such as "Morcambe and Wise", "The Two Ronnies", "Rolf Harris" and many other variety shows in the UK. The group toured the world with The Osmonds, appearing at Madison Square Gardens, and performed at the 45th Academy Awards in Hollywood on 27 March 1973.[3]
Photos of Springfield Revival: , ,
Pussyfoot Era (1975–1980)
Donna and Mick split from Ray Martin and formed a duo using a number of names: Mick and Donna (1975–1976); Donna Jo (1976); and Pussyfoot (1975–1980).[6] For Pussyfoot, Flinn remained behind the scenes, and Jones was marketed as a solo artist.
1976 "The Way That You Do It"
In 1976 they recorded a disco song "The Way That You Do It", and first attracted public attention when the song's suggestive lyrics caused it to be banned by the BBC. In Australia, the television show Countdown began playing the video clip, and exploited the British ban on playing the song. Over several months, Jones became a sensation and a sex symbol. The song was released as a single by EMI Records and spent eight weeks at number one on the singles chart from December 1976.
1980 Song for Europe Contest
In 1980, Jones fronted a mainly female band (with Mick Flinn on lead guitar) that adopted her previous stage name Pussyfoot, and the group entered the Song for Europe 1980 contest, (a preamble to the Eurovision Song Contest). Pussyfoot came fourth in the contest, with media commentators speculating after the event that Jones was, once again, too raunchy for British tastes. The other members of Pussyfoot at the contest were Fiona Tucker (bass guitar), Jude Allen (synthesizer / keyboards), Jackie Dixon (drums) and Annabel Rees (synthesizer / keyboards).[7][8]
The New Seekers (1979–)
Donna Jones Page at The New Seekers website.[9]
Personal
She began dance classes at age 3, and appearing in the UK TV soap Coronation Street at age 12.[2]
She married her Springfield Revival partner, Mick Flinn,[10][11] who also subsequently joined The New Seekers.[3]
Also known as
- Doreen Jones
- Donna Jones
- Pussyfoot
- Donna Flinn
Mick Flinn
Australian born Mick was a member of The Mixtures who, after back to back number 1 hits in Australia in 1970, released "The Pushbike Song" in the UK where it entered the charts in the top 5, peaking at No. 2 in January 1971. The Mixtures made the trip to England in January 1971, spending most of 1971 there, and then returned to England in 1972. Flinn left The Mixtures in May 1972, eventually settling permanently in the UK.[3][10][11][12] In the UK, Flinn formed The Springfield Revival with Ray Martin and Donna Jones. Flinn subsequently became Jones' manager-writer-producer.[13] and husband.
Discography
Comedy career
It's not all Glamour
Mutton (2004–)
Mutton go Psychic
References
- 1 2 1963, Lyn Paul's website
- 1 2 3 4 Donna Jones Biography, page 1 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 1963–1973, Donna Jones Biography, page 2 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- 1 2 Francine Rees Biography at Lyn Paul's website, www.lynpaulwebsite.org
- ↑ The Springfields states: "former stage musical actor Ray Hoskins, alias Ray Martin (vocals, guitar), from London".
- ↑ Duo with Mick Flinn, Donna Jones Biography, page 6 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- ↑ Pussyfoot 1980, Donna Jones Biography, page 7 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- ↑ Donna Jones Biography at Lyn Paul's website, www.lynpaulwebsite.org
- ↑ Donna Jones Page, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- 1 2 Mick Flinn Biography at Lyn Paul's website, www.lynpaulwebsite.org
- 1 2 Mick Flinn's website, mickflinn.com
- ↑ "The Mixtures". MILESAGO: Australas ian Music & Popular Culture 1964–1975. www.milesago.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ↑ "After The Mixtures ...". MILESAGO: Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964–1975. www.milesago.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ↑ Springfield Revival – Discography, Donna Jones Biography, page 9 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- ↑ Mick and Donna Duos – Discography, Donna Jones Biography, page 10 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- ↑ Albums – Discography, Donna Jones Biography, pages 11, 12 and 13 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
- ↑ Mutton, Donna Jones Biography, page 8 of 13, The New Seekers website, www.thenewseekers.com
