What Happened To Michael Nesmith? The Monkees Band Singer And Songwriter Dies at 78

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Michael Nesmith, the Monkees’ singer, and guitarist died Friday of natural causes. He was 78 years old at the time.

Robert Michael Nesmith was an American musician, singer, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist best known as a member of the Monkees and co-star of the T.V. series The Monkees (1966–1988). 

Following the Monkees’ disbandment, Nesmith maintained his successful songwriting and playing career, first with the legendary country-rock band, the First National Band. He had a top-40 hit with “Joanne,” later as a solo artist.

“I can only pray his songs reach the heights that can lift us and that our childhood lives forever — that special sparkle that was the Monkees.” -Michael Nesmith on Peter Tork’s death https://t.co/qcKuFwya2G pic.twitter.com/XQdgteczZv

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) February 21, 2019

He performs on a 12-string guitar, using a custom-built Gretsch electric during his tenure with the Monkees and several 12-string acoustic models after that.

What Happened To Michael Nesmith? 

Michael Nesmith, a Monkees member who later became a prescient figure on the Los Angeles country-rock scene and then a multimedia entrepreneur, died of natural causes on Friday. 

“With Infinite Love, we announce that Michael Nesmith died away peacefully and of natural causes, this In the morning, in front of his family at his home,” his family said in a statement to Rolling Stone.

“I can only pray his songs reach the heights that can lift us and that our childhood lives forever — that special sparkle that was the Monkees.” -Michael Nesmith on Peter Tork’s death https://t.co/qcKuFwya2G pic.twitter.com/XQdgteczZv

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) February 21, 2019

Nesmith’s final performance was less than a month ago, when he and Micky Dolenz, the Monkees’ lone surviving member, wrapped up a farewell tour at L.A.’s Greek Theatre on Nov. 14.

The couple had been scheduled on a cruise in early 2022, which was supposed to be their final performance together.

Michael Nesmith Wife- Was He Married?

Nesmith had four children and was married three times. While attending San Antonio College in 1964, he met his first wife, Phyllis Ann Barbour.

They had three children together: Jonathan, Christian, and Jessica, born in 1970. In 1972, Nesmith and Barbour divorced.

Jason was born in August 1968 to Nesmith and Nurit Wilde, whom he met while working on The Monkees.

He married Kathryn Bild, his second wife, in 1976.

Michael Nesmith Talks Upcoming Tour With Micky Dolenz https://t.co/trcq9jdqif pic.twitter.com/heibeZcfCa

— Micky Dolenz (@TheMickyDolenz1) March 14, 2018

Then, again, he married Victoria Kennedy, his third wife, in 2000, but the couple divorced in 2011.

Michael Nesmith Net Worth 

Michael Nesmith has a net worth of $50 million, according to the Taddlr website. Nesmith has written some incredible songs and even served as an executive producer for the cult film Repo Man, which came out in 1984.

Mike Nesmith also won a Grammy in 1981 for the television show Elephant in Paris in the category of Video of the Year.

Mike Nesmith comes from a wealthy family; his mother Bette was one of the founders of Liquid Paper, which was sold to Gillette for $47.5 million in 1979.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7u7PRZ6WerF%2Bau3DDyKSgaK%2BYlsFutMCpp56mlZl6tbuMpqCcoJGauW66xKykoqyYYsGpsYympqejlZrAbq7Ap5tmq5mjtKa%2BjJqlnWWjpLuow9Giq56qXZm2pr%2BMmqtmb2hk