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Mickey Jones has enjoyed considerable success in the music business both as a musician and a singer. In the past few years he has added acting to his already outstanding credits, having been featured in numerous guest star roles in hit TV shows such as "Northern Exposure," "Hearts Afire," "Evening Shade," "In the Heat of the Night," "Matlock, "Baywatch," and now Mickey can be seen as Peter Bilker, one of the K&B boys, on the smash ABC-TV series "Home Improvement" with Tim Allen. Some of Mickey's feature films include "Drop Zone" with Wesley Snipes, "Total Recall" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Tin Cup" with Kevin Costner and Rene Russo and Mickey also performs one of the hit songs in the film "Double Bogey Blues", "The Sunchaser" with Woody Harrelson, "Nadine" with Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger, "Extreme Prejudice" with Nick Nolte, John Carpenter's "Starman" and "National Lampoon's Vacation" with Chevy Chase. It is said that actors are judged by the impression they leave on their audience. Mickey Jones leaves a lasting impression. To not know Mickey Jones by name is understandable, but to not recognize him is surprising. Jones has played hundreds of characters with one basic premise-that you do the same things you would do in real life. "Acting is reacting to a situation. The trick to it is, don't act. You have to ask yourself the questions; How would I act? How would I feel? I don't think acting is difficult, I think we all do it everyday, without the camera," Jones said. The difficulty for Jones came-at least initially-in finding work. This was a very different situation for him compared to his early career as a musician. Mickey played with some of the biggest artists in the industry.The First Edition,(10)years, Trini Lopez,(8 years), Johnny Rivers,(3 years) and Bob Dylan,(2 years) and all sought out Mickey for his talent in playing the drums. Yet, Mickey can remember as a young child wanting to be an actor. He thought he would like to play the bad guy in films he saw and by coincidence many of his roles are just that. But don't
misunderstand: Mickey Jones is not a bad guy. He's a hard worker. He doesn't
take getting a job lightly and he worries that each job may be his last. His
hard work has paid off in roles on the highest rated television show in the
country. Most of the public recognizes Mickey as Peter Bilker, one of the
K&B boys on "Home Improvement" but Mickey has also guest starred on such
hits as "Northern Exposure," "Evening Shade," "Heart's A'fire" and "In the
Heat of the Night." Mickey also enjoys working in feature films such as
"Sling Blade" with Billy Bob Thornton, "Tin Cup" with Kevin Costner, "Drop
Zone," "Total Recall" and many more. Mickey Jones spends much of the time participating in charity events. He feels that television has been, in many ways, misused and feels obligated to strive for a higher standard. Mickey further propels his notion by giving his time to programs such as D.A.R.E. and career planning for local high school kids. He is also a reserve police officer and participates in annual drinking and driving diversions during the holidays. "Sometimes you have to make a stand for what you know is the right thing to do," says Mickey. Fearing kids reactions; he doesn't do beer commercials anymore. His charity work is also a means to his favorite activity-golf. As a child, his father, Fred, who was a scratch player, introduced Mickey to the game of golf. Mickey would caddie for him on occasion. Mickey recalls telling his father, "Dad, I love you but this is the dumbest game. Now I wish I had listened to him." To Mickey, playing golf was the waste of a day. That is until he hooked up with a man by the name of Kenny Rogers in a group called "The First Edition." Mickey recalls Kenny playing golf nearly everyday while the group was in Las Vegas . It took a lot of persuading by Kenny to get Mickey on the golf course. When Mickey finally broke down and went, he remembers that he played horrible. He did, however, have one 3-wood shot that went 230 yards and that shot hooked him on golf for the rest of his life. "I love this darn game but it hates me. It is the worst narcotic I can think of, it is very addicting," Mickey says. When he's not playing golf or working, Mickey enjoys spending time with his family. He is the father of five and grandfather of six. Lately, he has spent a lot of time with his youngest grandson, Trace, who is 5. Trace's dad, Jim Mullen, holds six title belts in full contact kickboxing so Trace goes from room to room practicing his kickboxing moves. Jim is currently the WKA North American Heavyweight Champion and the WWDF Heavyweight Champion of the World. Mickey attributes much of his success to his wife, Phyllis. They try to spend as much time together as possible and whenever they can fit it in, they love to go to the movies. Phyllis gives Mickey stability and has shown him that life is a learning growing thing. "She is the better half of this act, I married well above my station in life," Mickey says. Mickey's hobbies include scuba diving, video and golf. To quote Mickey, "I'd play golf every day if it was humanly possible. My loves are my family and my work and golf." Mickey's life is going in a good direction but not by coincidence. He credits his Christian lifestyle and a positive mental attitude. He applies that attitude to the things that he loves. His early success in the music industry and his big success in acting have all pointed to his winning philosophy, a philosophy that has produced a solid marriage and a strong family structure. "If you love it and you want it bad enough and you're willing to do it for free, you'll find a way to make it happen," Mickey said. And make it happen, he has. Mickey Jones will keep making it happen, not because of some high rolling agent or outrageous stunt but by doing what he knows best, making it real. Mickey's
Music Mickey began his music career by pounding a junior edition set of drums as a youngster. Born in Houston , Texas , Mickey moved "at the age of real little" to Dallas where he played in school groups. While in high school, Mickey met Trini Lopez, who offered him a steady job. It was his first real taste of living on the road -"nothin' but cokes and cheeseburgers." Mickey followed Trini to Los Angeles and eventually joined him at the hottest club in town at that time, P.J.'s. Their duo album, "Live at P.J.'s," was a tremendous hit then, and is a folk classic today. A young fan and frequenter of P.J.'s finally persuaded Mickey to team up with him for a fresh challenge. His name was Johnny Rivers. Together they recorded a string of hits including "Maybelline," "Mountain of Love," and " Secret Agent Man. " During the following three years Mickey recorded seven albums and toured the world, including a trip to Vietnam with Rivers and Ann-Margret. Then another admirer entered Mickey's life. Bob Dylan noticed Mickey while he was playing at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles , and a professional alliance began that lasted for years. The two became close friends as well. "The word 'genius' is not enough to describe Bobby," says Mickey. Dylan in turn appreciated Mickey's blues roots - a style that worked well with "The Band." Together they toured around the world including stops in such places as Malaysia , India and Lebanon . Just before a huge concert in New York 's Shea Stadium, Bob Dylan was hospitalized with a broken neck. Change was in the air again. Through old acquaintances, The Smothers Brothers, Mickey was contacted by "four singers who needed a drummer." The four singers turned out to be the seed of what later grew into "The First Edition." Of their initial meetings Mickey remembered, "I was really impressed by their unique vocal sound and when we rehearsed it was like I'd known them all my life - everything just fell into place." This relationship was to last a decade. During that period "Kenny Rogers and The First Edition," with Mickey as drummer and singer, recorded a stack of albums and dozen of singles including "Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Was In," and "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town." The First Edition made a half dozen tours, a film and a TV series, "Rollin' On the River," which is still in reruns around the world. Engagements kept Mickey on an airplane 288 days in 1975. After the
dissolution of The First Edition in 1976, Mickey concentrated all his
energies on his acting career.
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