Mike Nesmith: The member of The Monkees known as "Wool Hat"

The Monkees: Wool hat lives on

Mike Nesmith, along with Davey Jones, Peter Tork, and Mickey Dolenz thrilled fans during the 1960s as the singing group The Monkees. The television series of the same name only ran from March 1966-September 1968 but developed a cult following and can be seen on retro networks today. Their hit songs continue to be popular on oldies radio stations. The four men got together in later years and toured to the delight of their fans.

Nesmith was nicknamed "Wool Hat" because he actually auditioned for the Tv show wearing his trademark hat. He continued to don a wool sock cap in many episodes of The Monkeys. Once the series ended Nesmith enrolled part-time at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied music history and American history.

Mike Nesmith" The early days

The talented singer, songwriter, actor, musician, producer, and novelist was born Robert Michael Nesmith on December 30, 1942. He passed away on December 10 2021 and the official statement from his family said he died peacefully at home of natural causes surrounded by loved ones. In addition to his work with The Monkees, Mike wrote Different Drum, which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys. In the following video, Nesmith did his own rendition during a concert at the Live Britt Festival in 1992.

Mike Nesmith: Post Monkees fame

Once the Monkees broke up Nesmith continued his successful performing and songwriting career with the seminal country-rock group the First National Band, and with them, he had a top-40 hit titled Joanne. In 1974, Nesmith founded Pacific Arts Records and released what he considered as "a book with a soundtrack", which was titled The Prison, and became the company's first release.

Mike Nesmith: When one door closes

During the early 1980s, Nesmith was asked to help produce and create MTV, but due to prior commitments for his production company, he had to say no. This missed opportunity led to other doors being opened. In 1981, the entertainer won the first Grammy Award given for Video of the Year for his hour-long television show, Elephant Parts. In 1984 he was an executive producer of the film Repo Man. He also was the executive producer for the movies Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann, and Tapeheads.

Many times, if a singer is no longer producing chart-topping hits, the fans assume he or she has gone into oblivion but Mike Nesmith like others before and after him continued to produce but in other ways. Nesmith was the author of two books, The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora and The American Gene. He traveled with The Monkees on reunion tours as well as going on solo gigs to promote his own work and often the two were intermingled.

In 2014, Nesmith guest-starred in the IFC comedy series Portlandia in season four, episode 9. He portrayed the father of the mayor of Portland, Oregon in a fictitious role. Nesmith released a memoir and companion "soundtrack" album titled Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Rif in 2017.

The Monkees: Continuing the legacy

Nesmith was not able to join his comrades during a 20-year reunion tour but in 2018 along with Mickey Dolenz he began touring as The Monkees. It was emphasized that the two of them alone could never be what they were with Davy and Peter by their sides. The tour was cut short after Mike began having health issues and the 4 remaining concerts were cancelled. Nesmith later revealed that he had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery. He resumed touring in 2019 with First National Band Redux. during this tour utilized music from his 1972 album, And the Hits Just Keep on Comin.

Mike Nesmith: Personal life

Nesmith has a son who was born in 1968 as the result of a relationship with Nurit Wilde is an Israeli-born photographer and socialite who often captured photos of The Monkees. Three children, Christian,(1965) Jonathan (1968), and Jessica (1970) were born during his marriage to his first wife Phyllis Ann Barbour. Jonathan and Christian were born the same year so the affair with Wilde was during his marriage to Barbour. In 1976, the entertainer married his second wife, Kathryn Bild, and married his third wife Victoria Kennedy in 2000. The couple divorced in 2011.

Davy Jones died on February 29, 2012, and Peter Tork passed away on February 12, 2019. Mickey Dolenz is now the only surviving member of The Monkees.