Musician, Songwriter, Actor. He is remembered for portraying the slow but lovable member of the music ensemble "The Monkees." Born Peter Halsten Thorkelson, he was raised in Connecticut where his father worked as an Economics professor at the University of Connecticut and during his youth, he discovered his fondness for music as he learned to play the guitar, bass and banjo. After briefly attending Carleton College, he joined New York City's Greenwich Village folk music scene, which included Bob Dylan and established himself as a seasoned performer. After relocating to Los Angeles, California, he shortened his last name to Tork and succeeded in landing the role as a band member for the series "The Monkees" (1966 to 1968), which also included Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. During the show's two year run, Tork penned the song "For Pete's Sake" (1967, which was played with the closing credits for the second season), contributed vocally on the melancholy single "Shades of Gray" (1967) and displayed his vocals on "Your Auntie Grizelda" (1967). In 1967, he introduced "Buffalo Springfield" onstage during the Monterey Pop Festival and appeared with his bandmates in the film "Head" (1968). After "The Monkees" broke up in 1968. Tork spent the 1970s struggling to find success as a solo artist which led to a period of alcoholism. However, with the help of "The Monkees" shown in reruns a resurgence of fan interest took place which led to a reunion and tour in 1986. Over the next thirty-years, they periodically toured despite of the death of Davy Jones in 2012.
Musician, Songwriter, Actor. He is remembered for portraying the slow but lovable member of the music ensemble "The Monkees." Born Peter Halsten Thorkelson, he was raised in Connecticut where his father worked as an Economics professor at the University of Connecticut and during his youth, he discovered his fondness for music as he learned to play the guitar, bass and banjo. After briefly attending Carleton College, he joined New York City's Greenwich Village folk music scene, which included Bob Dylan and established himself as a seasoned performer. After relocating to Los Angeles, California, he shortened his last name to Tork and succeeded in landing the role as a band member for the series "The Monkees" (1966 to 1968), which also included Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. During the show's two year run, Tork penned the song "For Pete's Sake" (1967, which was played with the closing credits for the second season), contributed vocally on the melancholy single "Shades of Gray" (1967) and displayed his vocals on "Your Auntie Grizelda" (1967). In 1967, he introduced "Buffalo Springfield" onstage during the Monterey Pop Festival and appeared with his bandmates in the film "Head" (1968). After "The Monkees" broke up in 1968. Tork spent the 1970s struggling to find success as a solo artist which led to a period of alcoholism. However, with the help of "The Monkees" shown in reruns a resurgence of fan interest took place which led to a reunion and tour in 1986. Over the next thirty-years, they periodically toured despite of the death of Davy Jones in 2012.
Bio by: C.S.
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