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.

In 1964, Pons 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 acquired 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.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.