Bobby Hart
THE MONKEES
In 1966 the movie A Hard Days Night about The Beatles, ostensibly a free ranging light hearted romp following the ‘mop tops’ on tour, inspired Don Kirshner to create a similar group of witty and lovable lads, to star in a television series The Monkees.
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He recruited three Americans and one Brit, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith and Davey Jones. With limited musical experience, most of the tracks were recorded by session musicians, with The Monkees adding the vocals. The songs were written by various writers including Neil Diamond, Goffin and King and Bobby Hart.
The TV series was a success in the USA and UK and indeed the first album 'The Monkees' sold over 4 million copies.
The Monkees demise is often put down to their demands to write their own songs, and indeed did record tracks written by Dolenz. Although they eventually fell out with Kirshner, they continued to record for a couple of years until 1970.
Members of the band have had successful independent careers.
The Monkees reform occasionally but fail to make the comeback some other heritage bands have achieved, although their reissued cds sell well.
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