Michael Nesmith, Co-founder of The Monkees Dead at 78

Photo via The Monkees FB

Michael Nesmith, singer, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of The Monkees died Friday, Dec. 10, at age 78.

According to a representative for The Monkees, Nesmith passed away from heart failure.

“With Infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes,” his family said in a statement. “We ask that you respect our privacy at this time and we thank you for the love and light that all of you have shown him and us.”

Nesmith was born on Dec. 30, 1942, in Houston, TX. After a tour of duty with the Air Force, Nesmith was given a guitar as a Christmas present from his mother and stepfather. He moved to Los Angeles and began recording. Nesmith set himself apart with his Texas drawl and green woolen hat and was soon signed on to the 1966 TV program The Monkees. Though the show was about an imaginary band who didn’t experience success The Monkees in real life had a very different experience.

The music featured on the show was at first created by songwriter duo Bobby Hart and Tommy Boyce who also helped create the band’s self-titled 1966 debut album. The Monkees were not allowed to play instruments on this album, and instead only sang. But Nesmith was not one for being controlled. He is credited with writing “Mary, Mary,” on the 1967 follow-up LP More of The Monkees and would write “Listen to the Band,” “The Girl I Knew Somewhere,” and “Circle Sky” for the band.

Though the Nesmith and his fellow Monkees – Peter Tork, Davy Jones, and Micky Dolenz – were cast for their cute, fun and vanilla depositions they would become symbols of the counterculture of the 1960s. They broke free from their corporate masters with their LP Headquarters and assumed control of their musical expression and never looked back.

In 1970, after the groups split, Nesmith led the First National Band. Nesmith and his bandmates experienced success and released three albums between 1970-71 including top 40 Hit “Joanne” and “Silver Moon.” In 1979 he worked as an executive producer on PopClips which aired on Nickelodeon in 80-81 and is often credited as a direct predecessor to MTV.

Earlier this year, Nesmith embarked on a farewell tour with Dolenz, who is now the only surviving member of The Monkees. Nesmith’s final show took place at The Greek Theater in L.A. in November 2021.

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