The Monkees wool-hatted, guitar-strumming, singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith has died at 78. Nesmith, who had undergone quadruple bypass surgery in 2018, passed away on Friday, December 10.
“With Infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes,” his family said in a statement. “We ask that you respect our privacy at this time and we thank you for the love and light that all of you have shown him and us.”
Nesmith was part of the original lineup for the made-for-American-TV group The Monkees which hit the airwaves in 1966, alongside band members Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and David Jones.
Nesmith was best known as the green wool hat-wearing Monkee with the thick Texan drawl, and writer of hit songs like “Mary, Mary,” “Circle Skye,” “Listen to the band,” and “The Girl I knew Somewhere”.
But after the group’s separation in 1970, Nesmith moved on to other creative roles outside of music, kickstarting his carer as a writer, producer, and director. Though he was still involved sporadically in various Monkees reunions.
Nesmith played his last show in November 2012 as part of a Monkees farewell tour alongside Mickey Dolenz, who is now the sole-surviving member of the group following the death of fellow bandmates Jones in 2012 and Tork in 2019.
Monkees manager Andrew Sandoval also took to Twitter to express his sadness, writing: “That tour was a true blessing for so many. And in the end, I know that Michael was at peace with his legacy which included songwriting, producing, acting, direction and so many innovative ideas and concepts. I am positive the brilliance he captured will resonate and offer the love and light towards which he always moved.”
Nesmith is survived by his four children, Christian, Jason, Jessica and Jonathan.