Mickey Dolenz – Kent Stage – April 1, 2017
In the fall of 1965, Micky was one of 400 applicants who responded to a trade ad that announced auditions for a new TV show about a rock band. He auditioned for The Monkees’ TV show by playing and singing Chuck Berry’s legendary rocker “Johnny B. Goode,” and wound up chosen for the show along with three other actors: Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork.
The Monkees’ debut single, “Last Train to Clarksville,” featuring Micky on lead vocals, hit the charts on September 10, 1966 and rocketed swiftly to number one. Two days later, the television show debuted on NBC to great success. The TV ratings remained high for two seasons, and the show won two Emmy awards for the first season for “Outstanding Comedy Series” and “Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy” going to veteran director James Frawley.
Micky and his fellow “TV bandmates” actually went on to become a real live rock band that first toured North America from late December 1966 to May 1967, and then began a US / UK summer 1967 tour that featured (at Micky’s invite, following the Monterey Pop Festival) none other than guitar legend Jimi Hendrix as the opening act for the first few dates. It was around this time that Micky also acquired one of the first Moog synthesizers ever made, which he played on the Monkees’ track written by Nesmith, “Daily Nightly,” almost two years before its use by The Beatles on their final studio album, Abbey Road.
In 2012, word began to spread that Micky was beginning (or was it finishing?) an as-yet-untitled new solo album. The only concept revealed was that each of the songs were to represent a particular moment in Micky’s life to date. “An audio scrapbook,” said Dolenz. The album, Remember (Robo Records/Universal), would be released that September.
Actor, singer, director, producer, writer, radio DJ, inventor, and all-around performer extraordinaire, Micky Dolenz stands tall as a paragon of taste and accomplishment in the rough-and-tumble world of show business and entertainment. And oh, by the way – he remains a believer . . .
Mickey Dolenz is bringing those hits to the Kent Stage on April 1st. For tickets and more info go to www.kentstage.org
