Peter Tork of the Monkees born 1942

 

Peter Tork, born Peter Halsten Thorkelsen February 13, 1942 in Washington, DC, rose to fame as a member of The Monkees, a television show that aired in the 1960s. He began piano lessons at nine and learned to play banjo and guitar.  Tork joined the folk music scene in Greenwich Village.

Tork was cast in The Monkees with Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith.  He left the show in 1969 and began a solo career.  He appeared on numerous television shows and movies into the 2010s.

He passed away in February 2019 from cancer.

Milkshake by Peter Tork

The Monkees' "Last Train To Clarksville" reaches #1 1966

The Monkees single Last Train to Clarksville reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, November 5, 1966.  

The song is about a man calling his love to meet him at the train station because he is leaving and might never come home.  Although not specifically referenced, it is a subtle protest of the Vietnam War. 

Micky Dolenz, the drummer for the band, sang the lead vocals.  The rest, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Davy Jones provided back up.

"The Monkees" premieres 1966

Everyone's favorite fab faux group, The Monkees, aired their first episode September 12, 1966 with the farce Royal Flush.  The "Prefab Four" consisted of Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Michael Nesmith.  The show has been described as being about a band that wants to be the Beatles but it never happens. 

The Monkees became a band in their own right, playing instruments and singing their songs.  They were also one of the most successful bands in the 1960s and have sold more than 75 million albums world-wide, making them one of the most successful bands of all time!

Unfortunately, Davy Jones passed away in 2012 but the other three still perform together.

"Mega Python vs. Gatoroid" premiered 2011

A masterpiece in cinematic accomplishments just like Friday the 13th Part VII: New Blood, Mega Python vs. Gatoroid exploded onto the television screen on the Syfy Channel, January 29, 2011.

It pitted 80's divas Tiffany and Debbie Gibson against each other.  Unlike most campy, stupid movies, this one did NOT take itself seriously.  One of the best gags came at the expense of the audience, who could not hear the difference between "monkey" and "Monkee".  Until Micky Dolenz appeared. 

There were enough pop music references to make anyone cheer!