Sugar Sugar Singer Shocked at Davy Jones Death

66-year-old Ron Dante -- whose group released several hits around the same time as The Monkees -- tells us, he was great friends with Davy ... and even spoke to him a few months ago, when Davy appeared to be doing just fine.

Dante tells us, he and Davy had been in discussions to do a show together not too long ago ... and possibly even cut a few records -- but those plans never materialized.