Michael Nesmith, who rose to stardom in 1960s rock band The Monkees’ as the wisecracking, sax-playing guitarist, died on Friday due to heart failure. Nesmith was 78.
Nesmith is a native of Texas. Liquid Paper, invented by his mother in Texas was a staple item for all typists back before the advent of word processors. Nesmith began playing in folk clubs and the Troubadour after he had served his time in the Air Force. The Monkees offered him a job in 1965.
The MonkeesNBC aired them from 1966 until 1968. Although it was artificially created, the band was an original music group and was a major phenomenon in pop music. While multiple artists in the rock’n’roll era had used television stardom as a springboard for their music career, most noticeable Ricky Nelson, The Monkees were a fictional band, albeit one in which the members more or less played themselves. The finest songwriters and studio musicians provided the band’s sound, its members initially adding almost nothing but vocals, which irked all members to no end. The Monkees were led by Nesmith and eventually made it onto both songwriting and instrumental tracks on the series of albums they produced during their brief, but wildly successful existence.
Nesmith’s songwriting skill was amply demonstrated in 1967, when The Stone Poneys, featuring Linda Ronstadt on lead vocals, took his song “Different Drum” into the Top 20.
Nesmith penned several songs for The Monkees, including “You Just May Be The One.”
After the Monkees, Nesmith delved into country-rock, while also producing this hit in 1970.
Nesmith later added filmmaking and video to his portfolio. In 1982, Nesmith combined music videos with sketch comedy segments. Animal PartsGrammy Award. Nesmith was also a part of various Monkees reunions onstage and in the studio.
Monkees was a must-see every Monday in our house throughout its three seasons. I will always remember the Monkees’ combination of top-flight songs and goofy humor. Even today, the dial never stops displaying a Monkees song on the oldies radio station. Mickey Dolenz now leads the remaining members of this band. However, the laughs and the songs remain. Godspeed Michael Nesmith.
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