jim pons

Bass player and singer Jim Pons (born March 14, 1943 in Santa Monica, CA, USA) joined Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention in early 1971 and stayed in the band until December 10, 1971 (the London concert where Zappa was trown off stage). He can be heard on various Zappa / Mothers albums.

Before joining Zappa, Jim Pons had been a part of The Turtles, as were Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan.

After his time with the Mothers, around 1973, Jim Pons became film coordinator for the NY Jets, a job from which he retired in 2000.

 

 

In 2005, Jim Pons and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he did game day video for the Jacksonville Jaguars for three more years before finally leaving the NFL.

He still sings and plays upright bass in a bluegrass band called Lonesome Ride.

Early 2017, Jim wrote a book called "Hard Core Love - sex, football, and rock and roll in the kingdom of god".

Jim Pons, 2017

 

discography

 

the leaves: hey joe
    (1966, lp, usa, ??)

 
 

the leaves: all the good that's happening
    (1967, lp, usa, ??)

 
 

the turtles: happy together  (3)
    (1967, lp, ??, ??)

 
 

the turtles: turtle soup  (5)
    (1969, lp, ??, ??)

 
 

1971 judee sill- judee sill  (producer)

 

12

the mothers: fillmore east, june 1971
   (1971, lp, usa, bizarre)

13

frank zappa: 200 motels
   (1971, 2lp, usa, united artists)

fz013v.jpg (37378 bytes)

 

mark volman and howard kaylan: the phlorescent leech & eddie
    (1972, lp, usa, reprise records) - feat.don preston, jim pons & aynsley dunbar

phlorescentleechandeddie.jpg (18573 bytes)

 

1972 balderdash- ballad of goodness & mercy  (bass)

 
 

john & yoko / plastic ono band: sometime in new york city
    (1972, 2lp, uk, apple) - feat. zappa & mothers

 

14

the mothers: just another band from l.a.
   (1972, lp, usa, bizarre)
 

1972 jim pulte- shimmy she roll, shimmy she shake (bass, background vocals)

 
 

flo & eddie: flo & eddie (2)
    (1973, lp, usa, reprise records) - feat.jim pons & aynsley dunbar

floandeddie.jpg (16121 bytes)

 

flo & eddie: the best of flo & eddie = compilation
    (1986, lp, usa, rhino rnlp 70134)

 
 

1988 frank zappa- you can't do that on stage anymore (sampler)

 
51 frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.1
   (1988, 2cd, usa, ryko)

54 frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.3
   (1989, 2cd, usa, ryko)
  zappa / mothers: swiss cheese / fire !
    (1991, 2cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71021)
 

1992 ono, yoko- ono box  (bass, vocals)

 
59 frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.6
   (1992, 2cd, usa, ryko)
60 frank zappa: playground psychotics
   (1992, 2cd, usa, ryko)
 

1998 nuggets- original artyfacts from the first psychedelic era 1965-1968 [box]

 
  2000 the leaves- the leaves are happening!  
  flo & eddie: the phlorescent leech and eddie  /  flo & eddie
    (2008, 2cd, ??, floedco / manifesto mfo 48001) = reissue
 
  tony palmer's film of frank zappa's 200 motels
    (2010, dvd, uk, tony palmer)

91

frank zappa & the mothers of invention: carnegie hall
    (2011, 4cd, usa, vaulternative records)

fz091.jpg (18146 bytes)

94

frank zappa: finer moments
    (2012, cd, usa, zappa records)

zappa_finermoments.jpg (47358 bytes)

  frank zappa & the mothers: mudshark live
    (2015, cd, uk, keyhole)
zappa_mudsharklive.jpg (39366 bytes)
     

 

filmography

  1971 frank zappa's 200 motels
  1975 dirty duck (soundtrack musician)

 

bibliography

  "Hard Core Love"
Jim Pons

    (2017, usa, book, ??)

 

random notes

     From: unknown
Has been, and as far as I know, still is--film coordinator for the NY Jets, which is what his job was when he was profiled on TV. In that profile, they showed him playing the bass in church, which he said is the only time he gets to play the bass anymore.


     From:  (NudeAdGuy)
     Date: 3 Nov 1997
I got an e-mail from Howard Kaylan after I wrote the Turtles' webpage with some questions on the whereabouts of former Turtles.  Jim Pons is still head of films for the NY Jets. His assistant is John Seiter, the last drummer for the Turtles.  Small world.


     From: SMooore@aol.com
New, exclusive Interview with Jim Pons at http://www.stevemoore.addr.com/zappapons1.html.
Jim discusses The Leaves, The Turtles, and life with Frank Zappa. He also describes his philosophy, his work with the New York Jets, and his new project, the David Center. (April 28, 2000)


     From: http://www.thedavidcenter.org/Pat_and_Jim_Pons.htm
Pat Elvir is a native New Yorker, a physician and partner in the CPEC Pediatrics Group of Mineola. Actively involved in early childhood development she serves on the board of her local Septa and The Max Foundation, and has recently been named director of programming for public access channel 80's Autism Awareness television show. Pat has travelled extensively on medical missions to Central America and Haiti as part of a distinguished career in the medical field.
Jim Pons was born and raised in Los Angeles, California where he enjoyed a career in the music business during the 60's as the bass guitar player for The Turtles, then, in the early 70's with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention. In 1973 he came to New York and began working for the New York Jets Football Club where he spent 27 years as Film and Video Director. Jim retired in February 2000 in order to devote his time to the establishment of The David Center.

Jim and Pat met each other in church (Vineyard Christian Fellowship RVC) and were married in 1989. They have two boys, David (6) and Michael (4). They now team up to create an organization which they hope will be a culmination of all of their talents and abilities, one which they feel is a much needed public service in their community.


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