# Jim Pons

Jim Pons (born March 14, 1943) is an American bassist, author, singer, and video director who most notably played for the Leaves (1964–1967), the Turtles (1967–1970), and the Mothers of Invention (1970–1971), and Flo & Eddie (1971-1973).
After leaving the music scene in 1973, he worked as a video director for the New York Jets, and briefly the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pons designed the Jets team logo that was used from 1978 to 1997.

## Early life

Pons was born in Santa Monica, California.

## The Leaves

In 1964, he formed the garage rock band The Leaves. The band was founded by Pons and guitarist Robert Lee Reiner, who were Fraternity students at Cal State Northridge (then known as San Fernando Valley State College).
They were originally called The Rockwells, prior to changing their names to The Leaves. They got the name Leaves when one of the members greeted another by saying “What’s happening?”, and the other responding with “The Leaves are happening”.
The Leaves eventually secured a regular gig replacing the Byrds as the house band at the nightclub Ciro's on the Sunset Strip. They signed with Mira Records after being heard by Pat Boone, who got them the position.
The Leaves are noted for recording an early version of the song "Hey Joe", which they recorded along with their debut album in 1966. Their version of Hey Joe was #1 on the Los Angeles stations and peaked at #31 on the Billboard pop charts in May 1966. Pons stayed in the Leaves until 1967.

## The Turtles

Pons joined The Turtles shortly after the Leaves. He played bass on their hit songs She'd Rather Be With Me, Elenore, She's My Girl, and You Showed Me. As a member of the Turtles, he appeared on television on both of their appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and American Bandstand. Pons continued to tour with the Turtles until they split in 1970.
Since the 2010s, he has occasionally guest-starred with The Turtles alongside Flo & Eddie.

## The Mothers Of Invention

Pons was a member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention (1970-1971). He played bass on their albums Fillmore East – June 1971, Just Another Band From L.A., and Playground Psychotics. Pons portrayed himself in Zappa's 1971 surrealist film 200 Motels, starring the members of the Mothers Of Invention.

## Video Directing

In 1973 Pons left the music industry to become the film and video director for the New York Jets football team; he designed the team's 1978–97 team logo. He held this position until around the year 2000.
Pons and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, where he did game day video for the Jacksonville Jaguars, until he retired.

## Personal life

Pons plays a U-bass in a bluegrass band called Lonesome Ride in Jacksonville.

## Book

In 2017, Pons wrote an autobiography titled Hard Core Love: Sex, Football and Rock and Roll in the Kingdom of God which won the 2017 Florida Writers Association Book of the Year award. The book describes his spiritual journey during his careers in the music and sports industries.

## Discography
### With The Leaves
#### Albums

* Hey Joe (1966)
* All The Good That's Happening (1967)
* The Leaves 1966 (1982)

#### Singles

* "Love Minus Zero" / "Too Many People"
* "Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go" / "Be with You"
* "You Better Move On" / "A Different Story"
* "Be with You" / "Funny Little Word"
* "Hey Joe" / "Girl from the East"
* "Hey Joe" / "Funny Little World"
* "Too Many People" / "Girl from the East"
* "Get Out of My Life Woman" / "Girl from the East"
* "Be with You" / "You Better Move On"
* "Lemmon Princess" / "Twilight Sanctuary"

### With The Turtles
#### Studio albums

| Year | Album | Label |
| 1968 | The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands | White Whale |
| 1969 | Turtle Soup | White Whale |

#### Singles

| Year | Title (A-side / B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Album | Label |
| 1967 | "She'd Rather Be with Me" / "The Walking Song" | Happy Together | White Whale |
| 1967 | "Guide for the Married Man" / "Think I'll Run Away" | Happy Together | White Whale |
| 1967 | "You Know What I Mean" / "Rugs of Woods & Flowers" (from Happy Together) | Golden Hits | White Whale |
| 1967 | "She's My Girl" / "Chicken Little Was Right" (Non-LP track. A re-recording of this song later appeared on The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands) | More Golden Hits | White Whale |
| 1968 | "Sound Asleep" / "Umbassa the Dragon" (Non-LP track) | More Golden Hits | White Whale |
| 1968 | "The Story of Rock and Roll" / "Can You Hear the Cows" (Non-LP track) | More Golden Hits | White Whale |
| 1968 | "Elenore" / "Surfer Dan" | The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands | White Whale |
| 1969 | "You Showed Me" / "Buzzsaw" | The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands | White Whale |
| 1969 | "House on the Hill" / "Come Over" | Turtle Soup | White Whale |
| 1969 | "You Don't Have to Walk in the Rain" / "Come Over" | Turtle Soup | White Whale |
| 1969 | "Love in the City" / "Bachelor Mother" | Turtle Soup | White Whale |
| 1969 | "Lady-O" / "Somewhere Friday Night" (From "Turtle Soup") | More Golden Hits | White Whale |
| 1970 | "Teardrops" / "Gas Money" | Non-LP track (released under the alias: "The Dedications") | White Whale |
| 1970 | "Who Would Ever Think That I Would Marry Margaret?" / "We Ain't Gonna Party No More" | More Golden Hits | White Whale |
| 1970 | "Is It Any Wonder?" / "Wanderin' Kind" (from Wooden Head) | Golden Hits | White Whale |
| 1970 | "Eve of Destruction" / "Wanderin' Kind" (from Wooden Head) | It Ain't Me, Babe | White Whale |
| 1970 | "Me About You" / "Think I'll Run Away" | Happy Together | White Whale |

### With The Mothers of Invention
#### Studio albums

| Title | Year |
| Fillmore East – June 1971 (with The Mothers of Invention) | 1971 |
| 200 Motels (with The Mothers of Invention) | 1971 |
| Just Another Band From L.A. (with The Mothers of Invention) |

#### Singles

| Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Album | Year |
| "Tears Began to Fall" (single mix and edit) b/w "Junier Mintz Boogie" (non-album track) | Fillmore East – June 1971 | 1971 |

## Filmography

* 200 Motels (1971) — himself (uncredited)