Eventually, Nesmith departed the Monkees in 1969. While the Monkees' show aired in the 60s and the quartet amassed chart status with hits like "I'm a Believer," Nesmith recorded his first solo album, Wichita Train Whistle Songs. Because of his dry sense of humor and taciturn demeanor, he was known as the "Quiet Monkee" in the group. Several Nesmith originals made it into the TV show, and Nesmith amassed more songwriting credits than all the other members combined. Although the music in the show was mostly created by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Nesmith shared some songs he'd written with producers. The band was put together by TV producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider with the intention of doing a TV series about the adventures of a pop group. In 1965, following a tour of duty in the Air Force and some solo work, Nesmith auditioned to join the Monkees. Michael Nesmith was born in Houston in 1942, getting his start in music just by participating in choral and drama activities in high school. I am positive the brilliance he captured will resonate and offer the love and light towards which he always moved.” “I know that Michael was at peace with his legacy which included songwriting, producing, acting, direction, and so many innovative ideas and concepts. Monkees biographer and manager Andrew Sandoval wrote a tribute to Nesmith on Facebook. “I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick. I’ve lost a dear friend and partner,” Micky Dolenz wrote in a statement on Twitter. Dolenz is now the last surviving member of the made-for-television band. Just last month, Nesmith concluded a United States farewell tour with fellow Monkees bandmate Micky Dolenz. Nesmith’s family has said in a statement the musician passed away at home on December 10. His third marriage, to Victoria Kennedy, was from 2000 to 2011.The Monkees’ Michael Nesmith died on Friday morning from natural causes. He was then married to Kathryn Bild from 1976 to 1988. He had another son with Nurit Wilde, a photographer. First to Phyllis Barbour, with whom he had two sons and one daughter. Dolenz said in tribute, “I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick.” Nesmith released his autobiography, Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff, in 2017 and performed on a final tour with The Monkees last autumn, with a final show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. The Rio project gave Nesmith the idea for creating a programme showing solely video, named PopClips, which in turn inspired the development of the MTV music television channel. A longer-form video, Elephant Parts (1981), featuring “Rio”, won the first Grammy award for Video of the Year. Instead of a standard format, with a singer or band playing the song, he devised a montage of moving images that told the story, accompanied by the music. In 1977 he was asked by Chris Blackwell of Island Records to create a promotional video for his new single, “Rio”. When The Monkees disbanded in 1970, Nesmith continued in the world of music with a number of solo projects. “I mean, where do you want to be in the Sixties except the middle of rock’n’roll, hanging out with the scene? London was an absolute blast, and so was LA back then. “It was fun for me and a great time of my life,” he said. Interviewed later, Nesmith recalled the era with fondness.
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