Tag Archives: The Monkees

Born on this Day: Micky Dolenz

 

Born George Michael Dolenz on March 8, 1945, Micky Dolenz–then known as Micky Braddock–became a child star at the age of 11 while starring in the 1950’s television show Circus Boy. In 1966, at age 21, Micky–who now went by his real last name–was chosen to star alongside fellow child actor and singer Davy Jones and musicians Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, in the NBC television comedy series The Monkees.

Since The Monkees, Micky lived in the U.K. for several years in which he created and produced a children’s television show, as well as directing and producing stage and television shows.

In 1986, MTV helped to re-ignite the resurgence of The Monkees when they aired reruns of the television series. It was during this same year that Dolenz and his bandmates Jones and Tork reunited to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary and went on tour. During On Sept. 7, 1986, Micky, Davy and Peter performed at L.A.’s Greek Theatre when they were joined by absentee bandmate Michael Nesmith, who had left the band in 1970.

Since then, The Monkees (minus Nesmith) have reunited several times over the years to perform in concert together. However, after Jones’s untimely death on Feb, 29, 2012, Nesmith rejoined the band to help celebrate Jones’s memory and time with The Monkees.

Happy 70th Birthday, Micky! 🍰

Backstage with Micky Dolenz after The Monkees concert on July 10, 2011.

Backstage with Micky Dolenz after The Monkees concert on July 10, 2011.

Remembering Davy Jones

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Peter, Micky & Davy performing at Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Calif. on July 10, 2011.

Peter, Micky & Davy performing at Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Calif. on July 10, 2011.

 

On the morning of Feb. 29, 2012, I woke up to find that a few friends had left messages on my Facebook page, giving me their condolences because one of my first celebrity childhood crushes had passed away. I had to Google the news to see if it was true because I didn’t want to believe them. Sure enough, my friends were telling me the truth: Davy Jones had died.

As a three and a half-year-old child watching summer reruns of The Monkees television show, I never would have imagined that this show and the band’s music would make a huge impact on my life. The show was one of my first television memories. I also never thought I would ever get to meet people whom I admired. The Monkees’s timeless music, as well as the zaniness and antics of these four guys on the TV show, brought so much joy to my childhood. Anytime I heard their music on my local radio station or whenever they made television appearances to promote their 20th anniversary reunion tour, I was always there watching–just as The Monkees’s song goes–“every step of the way.”

Well, on July 10, 2011, it finally happened: I got to meet The Monkees, including Davy Jones! My friend Ava and I had tickets and VIP passes to see them (minus Michael Nesmith) perform in Saratoga, Calif. After the show, we waited about 30 minutes or so until Peter, Micky and Davy finally came backstage to greet us. They each did their own thing in VIP and when Davy arrived, I noticed someone brought over a stool for him to sit on. Ava and I were probably the third people waiting in line and when it finally was our turn to meet Davy, I let her go first. I also got a little starstruck (the only other time this has happened to me was when I shook my other childhood crush’s hand, when I was 12.5-years-old). I managed to say “hello” to Davy, but that was about it. To this day, I wish I would have told him my first name because he would have been very familiar with it (his wife and one of his daughters have similar names). Ava snapped two photos of me and Davy, and then we left. Seven months later, he died. 😦

I’m still grateful to this day for my friend Melissa and her boyfriend, who accompanied me to the concert, as well as to Ava, who we met up with at the venue and who got us (her and me) the tickets, VIP passes and who took the photos. And thank you to Peter, Micky and especially Davy for making my childhood wish come true. 🙂

It has been three years since Davy died and I would just like to remember him by his music and the smiles he helped place on every fan’s face (including myself) whenever he sang or spoke about his acting and singing careers and, of course, with his affiliation with The Monkees.

 

Finally getting to meet my first celebrity childhood crush.

Finally getting to meet my first celebrity childhood crush.

Almost 50 ‘Shades of Gray’

Sept. 12, 2016 will mark the 50th anniversary of when The Monkees television show premiered on NBC.

I can’t help but wonder if the song “Shades of Gray”–which was written in 1965 by songwriters (and real-life spouses) Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and was recorded in 1967 by the band The Monkees for their second album Headquarters–played an inspiration to the new film Fifty Shades of Grey. I really think this song should have been added to the film’s soundtrack. 😉

Fifty Shades of Grey is now playing in theaters nationwide.