Spike Jones, Jr.

Spike Jones, Jr.
Born	Lindley A Jones, Jr. (1949-05-19) May 19, 1949 Beverly Hills, CA
Occupation	Television producer and director

Lindley A "Spike" Jones, Jr. (born May 19, 1949) is an American television producer/director of award shows and live television events. He is a public speaker and frequent moderator and panel participant for entertainment industry events, and the founder of SJ2 Entertainment.^[1] He is the son of satirical musician and bandleader, Spike Jones, and singer and actress, Helen Grayco, and the brother of Linda Lee Jones, Grammy-winning recording engineer, Leslie Ann Jones, and Gina Maria Jones.

Career

Spike Jones, Jr. is one of the entertainment industry’s most respected and sought-after producers of award shows and live television events. Known for his creativity, stellar talent relations and dedicated commitment, he has produced some of the industry’s biggest events, headlined by its top stars, and received many honors and awards. Through his company SJ2 Entertainment, he packages and produces event specials for internet streaming, the corporate world, network and cable television.

For 20 years he produced the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards^[2] for The Television Academy taking it from a dinner-dance held in a convention hall to a nationally telecast primetime production, emanating from the 7,100-seat Microsoft Theater at LA Live. He also produces the Emmy Awards Nominations Announcement Ceremony,^[3] which is carried live by hundreds of media outlets around the world.

He produced the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards^[4] and has amassed an extensive list of credits producing and directing projects for HBO, Oxygen, Showtime, A&E Networks, MTV, VH1, NBC, E!, Nickelodeon, IFC, and ABC. These include the Film Independent Spirit Awards,^[5] Writers Guild of America Awards,^[6] Jerry Lewis Telethon,^[5] the Spike Video Game Awards,^[7] the Red Carpet for the TV Land Awards, and The Closer series finale.

Jones, Jr. entered the arena of online gaming by directing Blizzard Entertainment’s premiere release of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor Cinematic Reveal in 2014. Through the years, Jones, Jr. has worked with a diverse roster of exceptional talent including Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Zooey Deschanel, Sir Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Neil Patrick Harris, Key & Peele, Amy Schumer, Jane Lynch, Triumph the insult comic dog, Chris Rock, Mel Brooks and President Bill Clinton.

Jones, Jr. dedicates his time to the Television Academy’s educational and charitable arm, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, by inspiring and teaching the next generation of television leaders through lectures, mentorships and seminars. In 2015 he executive-produced the Foundation’s College Television Awards,^[8] marking the fifth time he has volunteered his creativity and expertise to the organization.

In 2014 Jones, Jr. produced and directed a unique Academy member event: SCORE: A Concert of Music Composed for Television.^[9] This oneof-a-kind concert at Royce Hall featured an 80-piece orchestra performing a vast range of iconic television theme music from Game of Thrones to Family Guy, all conducted by the composers of each popular theme.

Syd Cassyd Founders Emmy Award

In 2015 he was presented with the prestigious Syd Cassyd Founders Emmy Award for his significant work and contribution on behalf of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).^[10] Television Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum said:

Spike has been an important part of the DNA of the Academy for a very long time. He has strongly influenced the artistic direction of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and shaped it into a wonderful celebration of the many artists, technicians and talents who are the heart and soul of our industry. Spike has also performed countless hours of pro-bono work, and given tremendous support to Academy and Foundation initiatives. He cares passionately about our mission to push the boundaries of television, and for this he is a most deserving recipient of the Syd Cassyd Award.^[11]

The award was presented to him by longtime friend and colleague, producer Chuck Lorre.

Early life

Spike Jones, Sr. and Jr. on the Howdy Doody set

Born into a show business family, Jones, Jr. had a childhood career as a musician and performer. His father, satirical musician Spike Jones, led the band Spike Jones and his City Slickers. They recorded numerous, hit parody songs from the 1940s through the early 1960s. His mother, singer and actress Helen Grayco, often performed in her husband's stage and television shows. Jones, Jr. and his sisters spent much time on the road visiting their parents during the summer months.

In early 1965, at age 15, Jones Jr. briefly took over as bandleader when his father became too ill to perform. At that time, the band was called Spike Jones and the Band That Plays for Fun. Jones, Jr. had watched his father's act so many times, he knew where every gunshot, horn honk and glug went. During the following months, when his father returned to work doing three shows a night in Vegas and Lake Tahoe, Jones, Sr. would perform the first two shows, and Jones Jr. would lead the band during the third show. When his father passed away on May 1, 1965, Jones, Jr. once again stepped in and led the band for a number of scheduled performances.^[12]

References