Support our efforts, sign up to a full membership!
(Start for free)
Register or login with just your e-mail address
Oldies 15/12/2008

'Making The Monkees' Revisits Rise And Fall Of 1960s Musical Phenomenon

Hot Songs Around The World

Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield
281 entries in 22 charts
Vois Sur Ton Chemin
Bennett
216 entries in 9 charts
Until I Found You
Stephen Sanchez
215 entries in 16 charts
Stick Season
Noah Kahan
295 entries in 19 charts
Lovin On Me
Jack Harlow
280 entries in 22 charts
Houdini
Dua Lipa
274 entries in 26 charts
Water
Tyla
296 entries in 20 charts
Murder On The Dancefloor
Sophie Ellis Bextor
394 entries in 23 charts
Prada
Casso, Raye & D-Block Europe
462 entries in 19 charts
Greedy
Tate McRae
596 entries in 28 charts
Lose Control
Teddy Swims
291 entries in 25 charts
Strangers
Kenya Grace
433 entries in 24 charts
Si No Estas
Inigo Quintero
276 entries in 17 charts
Cruel Summer
Taylor Swift
558 entries in 20 charts
WASHINGTON, DC. (Top40 Charts/ Smithsonian Networks) - In 1965, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz came together to form The Monkees, a fictional band created by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for a television pilot with the goal of capitalizing on the success of 1960s Beatle-mania. The group quickly became a phenomenon as their catchy singles like "Daydream Believer" rose to the top of the hit-lists, ultimately out-selling The Beatles and Elvis Presley combined in 1967.

The complete story of the rise and fall of The Monkees - including recent interviews with many of the principals and key figures who guided the creation and direction of the group - is depicted in Making The Monkees, an hour-long documentary premiering Saturday, January 10 (2009) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel(TM). (Check listings for frequent repeats.)

Auditions held at Columbia Pictures in Los Angeles brought 437 kids into the city to try for the four open spots. The legendary Don Kirshner was hired as Music Supervisor after the final boys were chosen. Kirshner, a record hit maker, oversaw The Monkees' first record, "Last Train to Clarksville," which was released prior to the series' debut and drove ratings to record levels.

Season 1 aired on NBC in 1966 and the show was a surprise hit. The boys became teen sensations and began to perform before live audiences of their mass of teen fans. Monkee-themed toys, clothing, lunchboxes and dolls were designed, and the revenue poured in.

The Monkees television show aired for two seasons, but by 1968 the phenomenon was drawing to a close. It was revealed the group was man-made and the resulting publicity was resoundingly negative. The Monkees became known as "fake" and began to argue over their creative rights with music man Don Kirshner. After filming their final project, a movie called "Head," the band separated.

The full story of The Monkees' exploits will air on Smithsonian Channel on January 10, 2009at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Narrator: Roger Rose. Produced by Diarmuid Lavery. Directed by Brian Henry Martin. Editor: David Gray. Cinematographer: David Banker. For DoubleBand Films: Michael Hewitt, Executive Producer. For Smithsonian Networks: Joy Galane, Executive Producer. Charles Poe, Vice President of Production. David Royle, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production. A DoubleBand Film Production for Smithsonian Networks and Channel Four.






Most read news of the week


© 2001-2024
top40-charts.com (S4)
about | site map
contact | privacy
Page gen. in 0.0093970 secs // 4 () queries in 0.0043621063232422 secs