American pop-rock band formed in 1965 for the NBC television sitcom The Monkees (1966-1968). Lineup: Davy Jones (vocals/percussion, 1945-2012), Micky Dolenz (vocals/drums, b. 1945), Michael Nesmith (vocals/guitar, 1942-2021), and Peter Tork (vocals/bass, 1942-2019). Assembled via audition by Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson.
Released 13 studio albums between The Monkees (1966) and Good Times! (2016). Commercial peak: their first four albums all hit #1, with The Monkees (1966) and More of the Monkees (1967) being the two best-selling albums of the 1960s. Best-known singles: "Last Train to Clarksville" (1966), "I'm a Believer" (1966, written by Neil Diamond), and "Daydream Believer" (1967). The 1968 Bob Rafelson-directed film Head effectively ended their TV-era moment.
