JIMMY And The Boys frontman Ignatius Jones has died aged 67 after a short battle with illness.
The Australian rock star died in his Philippines home on Tuesday, his sister Monica announced today.
The musician is remembered by his loved ones for his “immense creative energy” and having spent more than 50 years contributing to the arts both in Australia and across the globe.
Monica said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ignatius Jones AM, after a short illness.
“He died peacefully at 9.30pm, Sydney time, last night (May 7) at Iloilo City, the Philippines.”
She added: “He was one of the world’s leading event directors, devisors and designers.
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“His friends and family will remember Iggy as a bon-vivant, a lively raconteur and a real Renaissance man, immensely and passionately knowledgeable in history and the arts.
“The arts community in Australia has lost a champion, and dinner parties will now be less interesting, with his passing.”
Jones, born Juan Ignacio Rafaelo Lorenzo Trápaga y Esteban in Manila, Philippines in 1957, migrated to Australia with his family in 1963 and became a citizen in 1971 before fronting Sydney shock rock band Jimmy And The Boys in the 70s and 80s.
The band was one of the most popular live acts on the Australian scene by the end of the 1970s and released two studio albums: Not Like Everybody Else and Teddy Boys Picnic.
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After the band split in 1982, Jones pursued a solo music career and became a member of swing jazz-cabaret band Pardon Me Boys with his sister Monica, who is a former Play School presenter.
Jones also acted, appearing on TV series including Sweet And Sour and Culture Shock, and on comedy films, and featured on the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s film Strictly Ballroom.
The talented star later turned his focus to events directing and worked on the opening and closing ceremonies for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and as director of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations from 1996 until 2002.
In 2022, he retired to the Philippines with his husband Novy Bereber, a choreographer, who he married in 2018.
Jones was honoured with a Filipino-Australian of the Year Award in 2014, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Event Awards in 2017, and a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the country’s arts as a writer, director, performer, and author in 2019.
He is survived by his husband Novy, his mother Margot Martin, his brother Luis Miguel, his sisters Rocio and Monica, and his nieces and nephews.
