The Monkees Biography, Photos and Posters

The Monkees

Biography

Started: 1965
City and Country of Origin: Los Angeles, CA
Music Training:
Awards:
Top Recordings: "I'm a Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville," "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You," "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
The Monkees Biography: The Monkees, much like The Village People during the disco era and more recently the Spice Girls, were a manufactured group. They were put together for a television show to capitalize on the success of the Beatles. In September of 1965, television producers Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson placed an ad Variety for four "folk & rock musicians" to appear in a TV series. As it turned out only Michael Nesmith, actually saw the ad. The other winners found out from other sources. Only guitarist/songwriter Michael Nesmith and bassist Peter Tork had music experience on the folk scene. Dolenz and Jones were primarily actors. It was made clear from the beginning that the group would be primarily actors and only sing the songs while pretending to play their instruments to promote the music written by professional songwriters like Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, and Neil Diamond. The show which debuted in September of 1966 was built along the lines of the movie A Hard Day's Night. It was marked by its slapstick humor and music video like fast editing which was avant garde for its day. However, by the time of its release the Beatles had moved well beyond their early days with the release of Revolver. Their first 2 hits "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer" both made the top of the charts. On their first recordings they were only allowed to sing and not allowed to play their instruments. By the time they recorded their third album Headquarters in 1967 the group led by professional musician Nesmith, who had written Linda Ronstadt's hit "Different Drum," had wrested control of their recordings away from the producers and did indeed play their own instruments. By 1968 the Monkees success was drawing to a close and the final episode aired in March of 1968.

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