The floral designer got his start in New York City with an established florist and soon counted among his clients Babe and Bill Paley of CBS and philanthropists Bunny and Paul Mellon. After he moved to Los Angeles in 1963, his friends Nancy Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale introduced him to entertainment industry customers. He has done flowers for princesses, President Reagan's state dinners and a California visit by Pope John Paul II.
Jones is selling as he prepares to branch out and pursue projects such as a book. He will continue to take private requests for flowers but hopes to do more personal entertaining, charity work and garden design.
"I want to have a little more free time for me," Jones said.
Bret Parsons of Aaroe Architectural is the listing agent.
Big-band leader ready to change tune
Big-band leader and trumpeter Ray Anthony has his home in the Hollywood Hills West area on the market at $5.2 million.
Custom-built for Anthony in 1975, the 3,881-square-foot house contains a den, an office, a gym, two fireplaces, two bedrooms and three bathrooms.
"We built it to take advantage of the tremendous views," he said of his hillside home, which sits on about a quarter of an acre on a cul-de-sac.
Anthony, who turned 90 this year, used the house for years to run a business selling big-band CDs. He planned to play at a belated celebration marking his birthday this month.
He has performed with Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey, among others. Anthony and his band appeared in several movies and on the late-1950s variety show bearing his name. The band's recordings popularized "The Hokey Pokey" and "The Bunny Hop."
Anthony said he is selling to move closer to a friend in Beverly Hills.
James Campbell and Luis Pezzini of Sunset Strip Realty are the listing agents.
lauren.beale@latimes.com
