Jack Jones, Singer Behind The Love Boat Theme, Dead at 86

Michael Ausiello

24 October 2024 at 4:51 pm·1-min read

Grammy-winning singer Jack Jones, the voice behind the iconic theme song for The Love Boat, died Wednesday following a battle with leukemia. He was 86.

Jones was known primarily as a pop singer, with hits that included “Lollipops and Roses,” “Wives and Lovers,” “The Race Is On,” “The Impossible Dream” and “Call Me Irresponsible.”

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He was also a variety show staple in the ’60s and ’70s, having performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Andy Williams Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Dick Cavett Show and The Steve Allen Show.

But it was it was the theme song from the opening title sequence of ABC’s The Love Boat, which aired from 1977-1986, which made Jones something of a pop culture icon. He lampooned his Love Boat fame via a cameo in 1982’s Airplane II: The Sequel.

Jones performed The Love Boat theme for the series’ first seven seasons. In the show’s eighth and final season, Dionne Warwick presided over a different arrangement of the song.

KESQ in Palm Springs was first to report the news of Jones’ death.

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