Tag Archives: 50th Anniversary

On This Day in History: The Monkees Turn 50

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On Sept. 12, 1966, a new comedy series titled The Monkees premiered on NBC-TV. It starred David (Davy) Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael (Mike) Nesmith and Peter Tork, who were chosen to portray members of a struggling, fictional rock band looking for work.

Jones and Dolenz were already actors when they were hired for the show, while Nesmith and Tork were musicians. Eventually, this made-for-television band ultimately became a real-life band, playing their own instruments and taking control of their music. Between 1966 and 1967, The Monkees albums both outsold the Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined.

Currently, Dolenz and Tork are on tour promoting the band’s 12th album, Good Times. Nesmith will join them for two concert dates in Arizona, as well as the one at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 16. Nesmith is currently writing a book, which will be released in 2017.

🎤🎸 🎶 🎹

Music Monday: The Monkees

When I was 3.5-years-old, I used to watch summer reruns of the TV comedy series The Monkees. The show, as well as the two actors and two musicians–Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael ‘Mike’ Nesmith and Peter Tork–who starred in it inspired me in one way or another with the four constants that are still in my life today: writing (i.e. words), music, comedy and television.

Although viewers and fans of The Monkees may recall hearing the faster version of the song”I Wanna Be Free” in the pilot episode, “Here Come The Monkees,” the show’s producers ultimately chose to play the slower version of the song in numerous episodes thereafter. Personally, I prefer the faster version than the slower one.

The Monkees TV comedy series aired on NBC from Sept. 12, 1966 to Mar. 25, 1968.

So in honor of The Monkees 50th Anniversary…

The Monkees Celebrate 50th Anniversary With New Album And Tour

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The Monkees’s 12th album is scheduled for release June 10.

It was announced today that The Monkees will be releasing a new album and will tour this summer to commemorate the band’s 50th anniversary.

The album, titled Good Times, is scheduled for release June 10. Band members Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork will tour multiple cities across North America, beginning May 18. Michael ‘Mike’ Nesmith won’t be involved with the new album nor the tour since he currently has multiple projects he’s working on.

Sadly, one missing link will be the absence of front man Davy Jones, who died on Feb. 29, 2012, after having suffered a severe heart attack near his Florida home.

For more information about The Monkees new album and tour, click here.

Do you have a favorite Monkees song or album?