By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - Hey, hey! The lead singer of the Monkees will be entertaining crowds at next year's Fourth of July celebration.

Singer Davy Jones, who helped keep the band on top of the music charts starting in the 1960s, will highlight the city's 2003 Red, Rhythm & Boom celebration. Council approved a $20,000 contract on Monday with Paradise Artists, Inc., for the concert.

"I can sing them all," Councilwoman Charlene Pelfrey said of the band's songs. "If you would have told me as a 14-year-old girl that he would have been coming to my town ... I would have fainted."

Mr. Jones sang several of the bands' hits - including "Daydream Believer," "Valleri" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" - before pursuing a solo recording career. He also made several television appearances, including on The Brady Bunch, and had a role in several plays, including Vic Fontaine in the touring production of Grease, according to Paradise Artists' Web site.

The concert will be held July 3 at Pine Hill Lakes Park. The Fourth of July celebration also will include game booths, food, and fireworks.

Previous headliners - such as Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits - drew crowds of more than 5,000 people.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com