Peter Tork (Thorkelson) |
OK I admit it. When I was around 13 years old, The Monkees television show was a very popular for folks around my age. Every week I watched the show, and I even went to The Monkees concerts.
The Monkees |
You knew it was fiction.
The Monkees in concert 1967 |
The Monkees theme song came on over the PA system. Girls stood on their feet and screeched, and suddenly those large Vox cabinets opened up, and two Monkees emerged from each one.
The Monkees Concert Winnipeg 1967 |
Peter on Vox Continental organ 1967 |
Peter Tork passed away on February 21st of this year after a 10 year battle with cancer. He started his musical career in Greenwich Village in New York City.
His given name was Peter Thorkelson.
Peter Thorkelson |
Peter began studying piano when he was nine years old, and soon learned to play banjo, acoustic bass, and guitar.
Peter Tork at The Pad in Greenwich Village circa 1963 |
In the early 1960’s he moved to New York City, and befriended some up and coming musicians on the folk music scene including Stephen Stills. Tork played banjo in Greenwich Village folk clubs during that era.
Stephen Still, Peter Tork, Davy Jones,& engineer Hank Cicalo |
In 1966, Stills auditioned for a new television series, but was turned down for the job. He suggested that Tork should audition for the job, since they were looking for a young, blonde, Nordic looking actor. Peter Tork got the job.
Tork took on the part of a lovable dummy, on the television show. He had honed that image as part of his folk act. He was anything but a dummy.
Don Kirschner |
The Monkees and Don Kirschner |
The Monkees sang their parts. But there were some exceptions.
The Monkees in the studio |
Tork, and his friend Joey Richards wrote the closing theme song for the TV show. It was called “For Pete’s Sake.” It is also said that he played the piano on Day Dream Believer.
The Monkees |
For the show Tork played bass guitar in the Monkees’ band. Sometimes he was featured playing a Vox Continental organ.
I will not go into detail, but eventually the actors, who in fact were pretty good musicians, and songwriters, got into difference of opinion with Don Kirchner, and wanted to write, produce, and record their own songs.
Tork was very interested in the recording process. The band produced six albums, four of which were number 1 on the Billboard chart. But like most bands, creative differences, and tensions escalated. Tork was dissatisfied with his situation, and bought out the remaining four years of his contract, then quit the group.
George Harrison and Peter Tork |
In 1967 Peter took a trip to London, and contributed a banjo part to George Harrision’s soundtrack for his film Wonderwall.
Peter Tork's band Release |
Tork formed a band with some friends called Peter Tork And/Or Release, and recorded some music, but did not get much reception. They disbanded when he ran out of money.
He worked on some other projects with his friends including Mickey Dolenz, and founded a music and film company. And during this period, Peter Tork became a father.
Sadly in 1972 he was arrested for possession of hashish, and spent three months in prison.
Mr. Thorkelson teaching at Pacific Hills School |
Peter Tork returned to Southern California where he married and had a son, then took a job teaching at Pacific Hills School in Santa Monica. He spent a total of three years as a teacher of music, social studies, math, French and history, and coached baseball at a number of schools.
There were more than a few Monkee reunions. The first was at Disneyland in 1976.
In 1980 he recorded a six song demo for Sire Records. Unfortunately it did not get a very good reception.
Peter and Davy on the Australian tour |
In 1985 Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz were touring in Australia, and the following year asked Tork to join them for a 20th anniversary greatest hits release. The group toured for a few years, sometimes with Mike Nesmith.
It was in 2009 that Peter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and underwent surgery, and radiation.
The Monkees 2011 tour |
By 2011 they got together for concerts in England, and the United States. Through the years Tork acted in some films and television programs.
Peter Tork's ODE banjo - 1967 |
Peter Tork’s long neck banjo, that he played during his folk years, on recording, and occasion on the Monkee’s TV series was made by the defunct ODE Banjo Company. It was possibly a 1961 model and had a figure eight style peg head.
Tork with ODE banjo 1986 |
The ODE company was eventually purchased by the Baldwin Piano company, and it is rumored the company made the only Baldwin long neck banjo prototype and gave it to Peter Tork.
Interestingly, the Baldwin Piano Company also purchased the Gretsch Guitar Company in 1967.
1966 Gretsch Monkee Model 6123 |
Gretsch Model 6076 12 atring |
Michael Nesmith ususally played his signature 12 string model model 6076. The deal was inked before Baldwin acquired Gretsch.
Tork with Gretsch 6073 bass |
On the TV show and in concert, Peter Tork played a burgundy Gretsch electric bass, model 6073. This bass guitar featured two pickups, and a 4 on-a-side headstock. It is said, that bass was prone to feed back, despite the fact it had faux “f” holes.
Tork with 1966 Guild Jetstar bass |
For concerts in the latter part of 1967 Peter later switched to a 1966 Guild Jetstar Bass Guitar, This instrument had one pickup, and a four-in-line headstock.
Peter Tork Strat - Shoe Suede Blues |
Most recently, during the Monkee reunion concerts, Peter is seen playing a red Fender Stratocaster with EMG pickups, and a Floyd Rose tremolo system. He also played this same guitar with his last band Shoe Suede Blues. There is no logo on the guitar.
Dolenz and Tork in concert |
Peter Tork with his guitars |
Throughout his career, Peter Tork played a number of different instruments, including a Fender bass, a sunburst Guild acoustic, a 12 string of unknown origin, and a Taylor mini.
Peter play a Carvin Guitar |
I did find a couple of other pictures of Tork playing what appears to be a Carvin Guitar. This was from a television appearance on the (org) Rosie O'Donnell Show back in 1996.
This picture is from a 1986 Monkees concert. Peter is playing a Guild Songbird, electric acoustic guitar.
The Monkees |
Despite being labeled "The Pre-Fab Four", the Monkees gave us some very memorable songs, and entertained us when we were young, and into our senior years
Click on the links under the pictures for source information. Click on the links in the text for further reading.
©UniqueGuitar Publications (text only)
1 comment:
Thank you! I enjoyed this very much. I played in a band for a couple of minutes with a guy who owned a red Monkees six string model 6123.
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