Spike Jones(1911-1965)

Actor
Composer
Soundtrack

American bandleader, drummer, and comedian famous for his satirical, comedic arrangements of popular songs and classical music, punctuated with sound effects like gunshots, whistles, and strange vocals. Best known for his band, Spike Jones And His City Slickers, he had major hits in the 1940s and 50s, including the World War II propaganda song "Der Fuehrer's Face" and the holiday classic "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."

IMDbProStarmeter See rank

Awards
- 2 wins total

Photos5

Known for

Mr. Nobody

7.7

Soundtrack

2009

Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, and Walter Matthau in I.Q. (1994)

I.Q.

6.2

Soundtrack

1994

Fireman Save My Child

6.7

Lt. 'Mac' McGinty

1954

Gary Cooper, William Holden, Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Burt Lancaster, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck, Paulette Goddard, Joan Caulfield, Cass Daley, Billy De Wolfe, Barry Fitzgerald, Mary Hatcher, Dorothy Lamour, Gail Russell, Olga San Juan, Lizabeth Scott, and Sonny Tufts in Variety Girl (1947)

Variety Girl

6.3

Spike Jones(as Spike Jones and His City Slickers)

1947

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

Burke's Law
7.4
TV Series
- Duke of Epsom
- 1964
The Spike Jones Show
7.7
TV Series
- 1961
The Ed Sullivan Show
7.9
TV Series
- Leonard Burnside
- 1961
Swinging Spiketaculars
TV Series
- 1960
The Spike Jones Show
7.2
TV Series
- 1957
The Spike Jones Show
7.8
TV Series
- Pinocchio
- Prince Charming
- Witch
- 1954
Fireman Save My Child
6.7
- Lt. 'Mac' McGinty
- 1954
Variety Girl
6.3
- Spike Jones (as Spike Jones and His City Slickers)
- 1947
Spike Jones and his City Slickers: Cocktails for Two
4.8
Music Video
- Spike Jones
- 1947
Ladies' Man
6.6
- Spike Jones - City Slicker Band Leader
- 1947
Breakfast in Hollywood
5.7
- Spike Jones
- 1946
Bring on the Girls
6.0
- Spike Jones Band
- 1945
Meet the People
5.7
- Spike Jones (uncredited)
- 1944
Thank Your Lucky Stars
6.7
- Leader of His City Slickers
- 1943
Idaho
Short
- Spike Jones
- 1942

Composer

Soundtrack

The Brutalist
7.3
- writer: "William Tell Overture"
- 2024
Animation Lookback: Walt Disney Animation Studios +
7.8
TV Mini Series
- performer: "Der Fuehrer's Face"
- 2019
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
7.0
TV Series
- performer: "Cocktails for Two"
- 2014
Mr. Nobody
7.7
- performer: "Clink Clink Another Drink"
- 2009
The Log
6.3
- performer: "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town / Jingle Bells Medley"
- 1999
The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue
6.1
Video
- performer: "Cocktails For Two"
- 1997
I.Q.
6.2
- performer: "COCKTAILS FOR TWO"
- 1994
Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection
6.8
Video
- performer: "Cocktails for Two"
- 1991
DTV Monster Hits
8.4
TV Movie
- performer: "That Old Black Magic"
- 1987
Spede show
6.9
TV Series
- performer: "The Blue Danube"
- 1984–1985
DTV: Golden Oldies
8.1
Video
- performer: "The Blue Danube", "Holiday For Strings"
- 1984
Auch Spaß muss sein
6.0
TV Series
- performer: "Holiday for Strings"
- 1978
Carpenters Very First Television Special
8.9
TV Special
- lyrics: "(They Long To Be) Close To You"
- 1976
Huset på Christianshavn
7.6
TV Series
- arranger: "I Only Have Eyes for You"
- 1970
The Frank Sinatra Show
7.4
TV Series
- performer: "Chloe", "Fascination", "All the Way", "Tammy", "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" (uncredited)
- 1958

Personal details

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Alternative name
- Spike Jones and His City Slickers
Born
- December 14, 1911
- Long Beach, California, USA
Died
- May 1, 1965
- Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA(emphysema)
Spouses
Children
Relatives
- Alexandra Selsman Hughes(Grandchild)
Other works
Spike and his City Slickers appeared in four Soundies, which were musical shorts made for coin-operated viewing machines.
Publicity listings

Did you know

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Trivia
Began his career as a top studio drummer, working on several Bing Crosby sessions and as a percussionist on the The Wizard of Oz (1939) soundtrack, among many other assignments.