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Monkees
The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conceived in 1965 by television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the situation comedy series of the same name. Music credited to the band was released on LP, as well as being included in the show, which aired from 1966 to 1968. While the sitcom was a mostly straightforward affair, the music production generated tension and controversy almost from the beginning. Music supervisor Don Kirshner was dissatisfied with the quartet's musical abilities, and he limited their involvement during the recording process, relying instead on professional songwriters and studio musicians. This arrangement yielded multiple hit albums and singles, but it did not sit well with the band members, who were facing a public backlash for not playing on the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Nesmith
Robert Michael Nesmith or Mike Nesmith, (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966–1968). His songwriting credits include "Different Drum," which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys. After the break-up of the Monkees, Nesmith continued his successful songwriting and performing career, first with the seminal country rock group the First National Band, with whom he had a top-40 hit, " Joanne", and then as a solo artist. He often played a custom-built Gretsch 12-string electric with the Monkees and afterwards. Nesmith founded Pacific Arts, a multimedia production and distribution company, in 1974, through which he helped pioneer the music video format. He created one of the first American television programs dedicated to music videos, ''PopClips'', which aired on Nickelodeon in 1980. He was asked to he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Monkees (TV Series)
''The Monkees'' is an American television sitcom that first aired on NBC for two seasons, from September 12, 1966, to March 25, 1968. The series follows the adventures of four young men (The Monkees) trying to make a name for themselves as a rock 'n roll band. The show introduced a number of innovative new-wave film techniques to series television and won two Emmy Awards in 1967, including Outstanding Comedy Series. The program ended in 1968 at the finish of its second season and has received a long afterlife through Saturday morning repeats (CBS and ABC) and syndication, as well as overseas broadcasts. It later enjoyed a 1980s revival, after MTV aired reruns of the program in 1986. It aired on Sunday afternoons on MeTV beginning on February 24, 2019, three days after the death of cast member Peter Tork ending April 26, 2020. The network aired four episodes on December 12, 2021, as a tribute to Michael Nesmith, who died on December 10, 2021, followed by a 'Weekend Binge' Decembe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Davy Jones (musician)
David Thomas Jones (30 December 1945 – 29 February 2012) was an English actor and singer. Best known as a member of the band the Monkees and a co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966–1968), Jones was considered a teen idol. Aside from his work on ''The Monkees'' TV show, Jones's acting credits include a Tony-nominated performance as the Artful Dodger in the original London and Broadway productions of ''Oliver!'' and a guest-starring role in a hallmark episode of ''The Brady Bunch'' television show and a later reprised parody film. Early life David Thomas Jones was born on 30 December 1945 in Manchester, England, to Harry and Doris Jones. He had three sisters: Hazel, Lynda and Beryl. Jones' mother died from emphysema when he was 14 years of age. Career as actor and singer Early days (1961–1965) Jones' television acting debut was on the British television soap opera ''Coronation Street'', in which he appeared as Colin Lomax, grandson of the regular characte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Tork
Peter Halsten Thorkelson (February 13, 1942 – February 21, 2019), better known by his stage name Peter Tork, was an American musician and actor. He was best known as the keyboardist and bass guitarist of the Monkees and a co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966–1968). Tork grew up in Connecticut and in the mid-1960s as part of the Greenwich Village folk scene in New York City, he befriended musician Stephen Stills. After moving to Los Angeles with Stills, he auditioned for a new musical television sitcom, ''The Monkees''. The series ran from 1966 to 1968 and made Tork and his co-stars teen idols. In addition to albums released with the band, Tork released one solo album, '' Stranger Things Have Happened'' (1994), and later toured with James Lee Stanley as well as his band, Shoe Suede Blues. Early life Tork was born at the former Doctors Hospital in Washington, D.C., in 1942, though many news articles incorrectly report him as having been born in 1944 in New York C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Micky Dolenz
George Michael Dolenz Jr. (born March 8, 1945) is an American actor, musician, TV producer and businessman. He is best known as the drummer and one of three primary vocalists for the pop-rock band the Monkees (1966–1970, and multiple reunions through 2021), and a co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966–1968). Following the death of Michael Nesmith in 2021, Dolenz is the only surviving member of the band. Life and entertainment career Dolenz was born at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California,Ancestry.com. California Birth Index, 1905–1995 atabase on-line Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: State of California. California Birth Index, 1905–1995. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics. the son of actors George Dolenz and Janelle Johnson. He has three sisters, Gemma Marie ("Coco"; born April 5, 1949), Deborah (born 1958), and Kathleen ("Gina"; born 1960). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Head (film)
''Head'' is a 1968 American satirical musical adventure film written and produced by Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson, directed by Rafelson, starring television rock group the Monkees ( Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith) and distributed by Columbia Pictures. During production, one of the working titles for the film was ''Changes'', which was later the name of an album by the Monkees. Another working title was ''Untitled''. A rough cut of the film was previewed for audiences in Los Angeles in the summer of 1968 under the title ''Movee Untitled''. The film featured Victor Mature as "The Big Victor" and cameo appearances by Nicholson, Teri Garr, Carol Doda, Annette Funicello, Frank Zappa, Sonny Liston, Timothy Carey, Percy Helton and Ray Nitschke. Also appearing on screen in brief non-speaking parts are Dennis Hopper and film choreographer Toni Basil. Plot ''Head'' begins at the dedication of the Gerald Desmond Bridge in Long Beach, California. As a local pol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pleasant Valley Sunday
"Pleasant Valley Sunday" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, most famous for the version recorded by the Monkees in 1967. Inspired by a street named Pleasant Valley Way and their move to suburban West Orange, New Jersey, Goffin and King wrote the song about dissatisfaction with the life in the suburbs. The Monkees' version differs somewhat compared to Goffin/King's original composition, including a well-known guitar intro played by Michael Nesmith and a reverb ending. Micky Dolenz sang the lead vocals. It became one of the Monkees' most successful singles, peaking at No. 3 and continuing their string of top 10 hits. The song was included on '' Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.'' Composition Cowriter Carole King stated in her autobiography that after she and her then-husband Gerry Goffin had earned enough money from songwriting royalties, they moved from New York City to West Orange, New Jersey, but Goffin disliked their suburban life and wrote lyrics to doc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Last Train To Clarksville
"Last Train to Clarksville" is a song by American pop rock band the Monkees. It was released as the band's debut single on August 16, 1966, and was later included on the group's self-titled album, which was released on October 10, 1966.''The Monkees Greatest Hits'' Rhino Entertainment R2 75785 Liner notes The song, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, was recorded at RCA Victor Studio B in Hollywood on July 25, 1966, and was already on the Boss Radio "Hit Bounds" playlist on August 17, 1966. The song topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on November 5, 1966. Lead vocals were performed by the Monkees' drummer, Micky Dolenz. "Last Train to Clarksville" was featured in seven episodes of the band's television series, the most for any Monkees song. Composition The song was written by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Boyce has said that the song's opening guitar part (played by Louis Shelton) was an attempt to emulate the type of memorable and clearly identifiable ri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I'm A Believer
"I'm a Believer" is a song written by Neil Diamond and recorded by the Monkees in 1966 with the lead vocals by Micky Dolenz. The single, produced by Jeff Barry, hit the number-one spot on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart for the week ending December 31, 1966, and remained there for seven weeks, becoming the last No. 1 hit of 1966 and the biggest-selling single for all of 1967. ''Billboard'' ranked the record as the No. 5 song for 1967. While originally published by Screen Gems-Columbia Music (BMI), it is now published by Stonebridge Music/EMI Foray Music ( SESAC), with administration passed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group. The song was No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in January and February 1967 and reached the top spot in numerous countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland. '' Billboard'' described the song as 'an easy-go dance mover' that 'will hit with immediate impact'. '' Cash Box'' said the sing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart was a supergroup, consisting of songwriting/performing duo Boyce and Hart and two members of the Monkees, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. Boyce and Hart had written many of the Monkees' biggest hits, such as "Last Train to Clarksville" and "(Theme From) The Monkees". The group existed only for a short time in 1976, recording one eponymous album. Background The group was called Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart because they were legally prohibited from using the name "The Monkees". Former Monkees members Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork—both of whom had left the Monkees before their final album, ''Changes'' (1970)—were also invited to join the supergroup, but both declined. Dolenz and Jones had been the only two members of the Monkees to contribute to ''Changes''. As such, and because of Boyce and Hart's close songwriting ties to the Monkees, several publications, such as Allmusic, consider ''Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart'' to be a ''de facto'' Monkees reunion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Rafelson
Robert Jay Rafelson (February 21, 1933 – July 23, 2022) was an American film director, writer, and producer. He is regarded as one of the key figures in the founding of the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s. Among his best-known films as a director include those made as part of the company he cofounded, Raybert/BBS Productions, ''Five Easy Pieces'' (1970) and ''The King of Marvin Gardens'' (1972), as well as acclaimed later films, '' The Postman Always Rings Twice'' (1981) and '' Mountains of the Moon'' (1990). Other films he produced as part of BBS include two of the most significant films of the era, ''Easy Rider'' (1969) and ''The Last Picture Show'' (1971). ''Easy Rider'', ''Five Easy Pieces'' and ''The Last Picture Show'' were all chosen for inclusion in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. He was also one of the creators of the pop group and TV series ''The Monkees'' with BBS partner Bert Schneider. His first wife was the production designer Toby Carr Rafel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Colgems Records
Colgems Records was a record label that existed from 1966 to 1971. History Colgems was a joint venture between Screen Gems, the television division of Columbia Pictures, and RCA Victor to issue records by The Monkees and other artists affiliated with Columbia/Screen Gems. The label would also issue soundtrack recordings for Screen Gems and Columbia Pictures productions. RCA acted as manufacturer and distributor for Colgems. Outside of the United States, Colgems productions appeared on the RCA Victor label. An earlier label, Colpix Records, was dissolved to make way for the new company, and nearly all Colpix titles went out of print. (One Colpix album was reissued on Colgems, the soundtrack to the 1962 film ''Lawrence of Arabia''.) Even before the Monkees began, Colpix had signed two future members – Davy Jones, recruited to Screen Gems by Ward Sylvester, and Michael Nesmith, who recorded as "Michael Blessing". The Colpix catalog was sold to Roulette Records. The Colpix cat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
