The Monkees Formed: 1965 (Los Angeles, CA) Members: Michael Nesmith (b. Robert Michael Nesmith, December 30, 1942, Houston, TX): vocals, guitar Micky Dolenz (b. George Micheal Dolenz, Jr., March 8, 1945, Los Angeles, CA): vocals, drums Davy Jones (b. David Thomas Jones, December 30, 1945, Manchester, England): vocals, tambourine Peter Tork (b. Peter Halsten Thorkelson (b. February 13, 1942, Washington, D.C.): vocals, guitar, keyboards
Contributions to music: It was the first live-action prime time television show to feature a rock and roll band. The Monkees advanced the careers of several Brill Building songwriters, including a young and struggling Neil Diamond. The series is said to have invented the television music video Michael Nesmith played a large hand in inventing "country-rock". Arguably they’re the most lovable of sixties pop groups
Early years: MADNESS!! Auditions. Folk & Roll musicians-singers for acting roles in new TV series. Running parts for 4 insane boys, age 17 - 21. So ran the ad placed in Variety by producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, looking to make an American TV version of the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night film. 437 auditions later, the pair had four boys, two of whom were musicians and all with some TV, stage, or studio work under their belts. (Contrary to rumor, Charles Manson did not audition for the group, although Stephen Stills did.)
On September 12, 1966, the show aired, and within two months the band's flagship single, "Last Train To Clarksville," sat at Number One.
Success: Despite the fact that the weekly NBC show became a huge hit, the manufactured nature of the project led many to question the group's authenticity as a "real band" as many groups recorded using session musicians and didn't write most of their own material. Soon, the backlash caused the group's members to rebel, fighting to complete an album entirely on their own (Headquarters) and to tour behind their hits.
By 1968, however, the series was canceled due to poor ratings, and the group attempted to shed its teenybopper image.
Other Facts You Might or Might Not Know: Nesmith's mother did indeed invent the formula for what would become Liquid Paper. The group infamously used Jimi Hendrix as an opening act on their 1967 tour. Micky Dolenz voiced Arthur on the cartoon series The Tick. Michael Nesmith pioneered the idea for the format that would eventually become MTV. Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon were both very vocal about their love of the group and its TV show.
Last Train To Clarksville Lyrics Songwriters: Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
Take the last train to Clarksville,
And I'll meet you at the station.
You can be be here by four thirty,
'Cause I made your reservation.
Don't be slow,
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
'Cause I'm leavin' in the morning
And I must see you again
We'll have one more night together
'Til the morning brings my train
And I must go
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don't know if I'm ever comin' home
Take the last train to Clarksville
I'll be waiting at the station
We'll have time for coffee flavored kisses
And a bit of conversation
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
Take the last train to Clarksville
Now I must hang up the phone
I can't hear you in this noisy railroad station, all alone
I'm feelin' low
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home
Oh Take the last train to Clarksville
And I'll meet you at the station
You can be here by 4:30
'Cause I've made your reservation
Don't be slow
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
---C-O-N-G-R-A-D-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S-- TO ggmorton FOR FIRST-TO-FIND!!!