Guitarist and vocalist for the pop/rock band The Monkees. Member of the group from 1965-1970 and 1996-1997. Responsible for some of the Monkees’
best individually-penned efforts, including “The Girl I Knew Somewhere”, “Circle Sky”, “You Just May Be the One”, “Papa Gene’s
Blues” and “Listen to the Band.” Has written many
hit songs for other artists, including Linda Ronstadt, the Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band and Olivia
Newton-
John. A proficient guitarist who sustained a successful solo career in the 1970s, releasing countless solo albums and achieving Top
40 hit singles like “Joanne”, “Silver Moon” and “Rio.” These albums were considered to be some of the most groundbreaking of the country-rock era. Formed his own production company Pacific Arts in the late 1970s, which, spurred on by the filmed version of his single “Rio”, helped pioneer the dawn of the music video. Subsequently created the
music chart show “Popclips” which later was bought by Warner and developed into
MTV. Recipient of the first video Grammy Award for “Elephant Parts” in 1981. Pacific Arts became the leading American video publishing company in the 1980s. Resumed his solo career in the early 1990s after appearing only sporadically in concert with the reunited Monkees between 1986-1989, but temporarily rejoined the band in 1996. Published his first novel, The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora, in 1999. Inherited the fortune of his
mother, Bette, who invented Liquid
Paper, also known as "white out."
Weren't they good, they made me happy.
I
think I can make it
alone.
-
Michael Nesmith, "Listen to the Band", 1969
