Singer of iconic TV theme song dies at 86

The Grammy-winning singer of an iconic TV theme song is dead at age 86.

The Associated Press reports Jack Jones, the crooner best known for television’s “The Love Boat” theme song, died Wednesday night at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California. He died of leukemia, which he had been battling for more than two years, according to his manager, Milt Suchin.

Jones won two Grammy Awards early in his music career for the 1961 song “Lollipops and Roses” and 1963′s “Wives and Lovers.” He was nominated for five other Grammys, including for a tribute to Tony Bennett in 1999.

In 1980, his “Love Boat” song reached No. 37 on the Billboard US Adult Contemporary songs chart. He also frequently appeared as a guest star on the television series, about a cruise ship whose passengers have romantic and comedic adventures.

“Love, exciting and new. Come aboard. We’re expecting you,” Jones sang on “The Love Boat,” which aired for nine seasons. (Jones’ version of the song appeared on more than 200 episodes over the first eight seasons; Dionne Warwick took over the theme on the final season.)

Jones also appeared on variety shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “American Bandstand,” “The Steve Allen Show,” “The Hollywood Palace,” “The Jerry Lewis Show,” and “The Andy Williams Show,” plus made a humorous cameo in the 1982 movie “Airplane II: The Sequel.” His screen credits also included “American Hustle,” “Juke Box Rhythm,” “The Comeback,” “Hullabaloo,” “Password,” “Night Court,” “Match Game, “Get a Life” and the BBC’s “The Jack Jones Show.”

Other songs performed by Jones included “The Race is On,” The Impossible Dream,” “Call Me Irresponsible,” the “Funny Face” television theme (“The Kind of Girl She Is”) and soundtrack contributions for the ’60s movies Anzio” (“This World Is Yours”) and “Love with the Proper Stranger.”

Jones, who was married six times including to original Bond girl Jill St. John, reportedly released more than 50 albums and performed in Las Vegas for seven decades.

According to The Hollywood ReporterJones’ family was also in show business. His mother, Irene Hervey, was an Emmy-nominated actress worked in film and television for five decades and his father Allan Jones was a singer who starred in 1936′s “Show Boat” and 1935′s “A Night at the Opera.”

Survivors include his wife, Eleonara; two daughters and two stepdaughters; three grandchildren; and his poodle, Ivy.