The Monkees are an American rock and pop band originally active
between 1966 and 1971, with reunion albums and tours in the decades
that followed. Their original line-up consisted of the American
actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork with
English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conceived in 1965 by
television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for
the situation comedy series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to
1968. The band's music was initially supervised by record producer Don
Kirshner, backed by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby
Hart.The four actor/musicians were initially allowed only limited
roles in the recording studio for the first few months of their
five-year career as "the Monkees". This was due in part to the amount
of time required to film the television series. Nonetheless, Nesmith
composed and produced some songs from the beginning, and Tork
contributed limited guitar work on the sessions produced by Nesmith.
All four contributed lead vocals to various tracks. They eventually
fought for the right to collectively supervise all musical output
under the band's name, acting as actors, musicians, singers,
songwriters, and producers.Following the television show's
cancellation in 1968, the Monkees continued to record music until
1971, after which the group broke up. A revival of interest in the
television show came in 1986, which led to a series of reunion tours
and new records. The group has reunited and toured several times since
then with different line-ups (but always containing Micky Dolenz and
at least one of the other original members) and with varying degrees
of success. Jones died in February 2012 and Tork died in February
2019. Dolenz and Nesmith remain active members of the group.
between 1966 and 1971, with reunion albums and tours in the decades
that followed. Their original line-up consisted of the American
actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork with
English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conceived in 1965 by
television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for
the situation comedy series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to
1968. The band's music was initially supervised by record producer Don
Kirshner, backed by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby
Hart.The four actor/musicians were initially allowed only limited
roles in the recording studio for the first few months of their
five-year career as "the Monkees". This was due in part to the amount
of time required to film the television series. Nonetheless, Nesmith
composed and produced some songs from the beginning, and Tork
contributed limited guitar work on the sessions produced by Nesmith.
All four contributed lead vocals to various tracks. They eventually
fought for the right to collectively supervise all musical output
under the band's name, acting as actors, musicians, singers,
songwriters, and producers.Following the television show's
cancellation in 1968, the Monkees continued to record music until
1971, after which the group broke up. A revival of interest in the
television show came in 1986, which led to a series of reunion tours
and new records. The group has reunited and toured several times since
then with different line-ups (but always containing Micky Dolenz and
at least one of the other original members) and with varying degrees
of success. Jones died in February 2012 and Tork died in February
2019. Dolenz and Nesmith remain active members of the group.
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