Peter Tork

Peter Tork

Tork performing at Family Gras in Metairie, Louisiana in January 2016.
Background information
Birth name Peter Halsten Thorkelson
Born (1942-02-13) February 13, 1942
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • artist
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • activist
Instruments
Years active 1964–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website www.petertork.com

Peter Tork (born Peter Halsten Thorkelson,[1] February 13, 1942) is an American musician and actor, best known as the keyboardist and bass guitarist of the Monkees.

Early life

Tork was born at the former Doctors Hospital, in Washington, D.C.[2] Although he was born in the District of Columbia in 1942,[3] many news articles incorrectly report him as born in 1944 in New York City, which was the date and place given on early Monkees press releases. He is the son of Virginia Hope (née Straus) and Halsten John Thorkelson, an economics professor at the University of Connecticut.[4][5] His paternal grandfather was of Norwegian descent, while his mother was of half German Jewish and half British Isles ancestry.[6][7][8][9] He began studying piano at the age of nine, showing an aptitude for music by learning to play several different instruments, including the banjo and both acoustic bass and guitars. Tork attended Windham High School in Willimantic, Connecticut, and was a member of the first graduating class at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs, Connecticut. He attended Carleton College before he moved to New York City, where he became part of the folk music scene in Greenwich Village during the first half of the 1960s. While there, he befriended other up-and-coming musicians such as Stephen Stills.

The Monkees

Tork (right) with The Monkees in 1967

Stephen Stills had auditioned for the new television series about four pop-rock musicians but was turned down because the show's producers felt his hair and teeth would not photograph well on camera.[10] They asked Stills if he knew of someone with a similar "open, Nordic look," and Stills suggested Tork audition for the part.[11] Tork got the job and became one of the four members of the Monkees, a fictitious pop band in the mid 1960s, created for a television comedy sitcom written about the fictitious band. Tork was the oldest member of the group.

Tork was a proficient musician, and though the group was not allowed to play their own instruments on their first two albums, he was an exception, playing what he described as "third chair guitar" on Mike Nesmith's song, "Papa Gene's Blues," from their first album. He subsequently played keyboards, bass guitar, banjo, harpsichord, and other instruments on their recordings. He also co-wrote, along with Joey Richards, the closing theme song of the second season of The Monkees, "For Pete's Sake". On the television show, he was relegated to playing the "lovable dummy," a persona Tork had developed as a folk singer in New York's Greenwich Village.[12] The DVD release of the first season of the show contained commentary from the various bandmates. In it, Nesmith stated that Tork was better at playing guitar than bass. In Tork's commentary, he stated that Jones was a good drummer and had the live performance lineups been based solely on playing ability, it should have been Tork on guitar, Nesmith on bass, and Jones on drums, with Dolenz taking the fronting role, rather than as it was done (with Nesmith on guitar, Tork on bass, and Dolenz on drums). Jones filled in briefly for Tork on bass when he played keyboards.

Recording and producing as a group was Tork's major interest, and he hoped that the four members would continue working together as a band on future recordings. However, the four did not have enough in common regarding their musical interests. In commentary for the DVD release of the second season of the show, Tork said that Dolenz was "incapable of repeating a triumph". Dolenz felt that once he had accomplished something and became a success at it, there was no artistic sense in repeating a formula.

Jones and Tork, 1966

Tork, once free from Don Kirshner's restrictions, in 1967, contributed some of the most memorable and catchy instrumental flourishes, such as the piano introduction to "Daydream Believer" and the banjo part on "You Told Me", as well as exploring occasional songwriting with the likes of "For Pete's Sake" and "Lady's Baby".

Tork was close to his grandmother, staying with her sometimes in his Greenwich Village days, and after he became a Monkee. "Grams" was one of his most ardent supporters and managed his fan club, often writing personal letters to members, and visiting music stores to make sure they carried Monkees records.

Six albums were produced with the original Monkees lineup, four of which went to No 1 on the Billboard chart. This success was supplemented by two years of the TV show, a series of successful concert tours both across America and abroad, and a trippy-psychedelic movie, Head, a bit ahead of its time. However, tensions, both musical and personal, were increasing within the group. The band finished a Far East tour in December 1968 (where his copy of Naked Lunch was confiscated by Australian Customs[13]) and then filmed an NBC television special, 33⅓ Revolutions Per Monkee, which rehashed many of the ideas from Head, only with the Monkees playing a strangely second-string role.

No longer getting the group dynamic he wanted, and pleading "exhaustion" from the grueling schedule, Tork bought out the remaining four years of his contract after filming was complete on December 20, 1968, at a default of $150,000/year. In the DVD commentary for the 33⅓ Revolutions Per Monkee TV special—originally broadcast April 14, 1969—Dolenz noted that Nesmith gave Tork a gold watch as a going-away present, engraved "From the guys down at work". Tork kept the back, but replaced the watch several times in later years.

Post-Monkees

During a trip to London in December 1967, Tork contributed banjo to George Harrison's soundtrack to the 1968 film Wonderwall. His playing featured in the movie, but not on the official Wonderwall Music soundtrack album released in November 1968.[14] Tork's brief five-string banjo piece can be heard 16 minutes into the film, as Professor Collins is caught by his mother while spying on his neighbour Penny Lane.

Striking out on his own, he formed a group called 'Peter Tork And/Or Release' with girlfriend Reine Stewart on drums (she had played drums on part of 33⅓ Revolutions Per Monkee), Riley "Wyldflower" Cummings (ex The Gentle Soul)[15] on bass and – sometimes – singer/keyboard player Judy Mayhan. Tork said in April 1969, "We sometimes have four. We're thinking of having a rotating fourth. Right now, the fourth is that girl I'm promoting named Judy Mayhan." "We're like Peter's back-up band", added Stewart, "except we happen to be a group instead of a back-up band." Release hoped to have a record out immediately, and Tork has said that they did record some demos, which he may still have stored away somewhere.[16] According to Stewart the band were supposed to go to Muscle Shoals as the backing band for Mayhan's Atlantic Records solo album Moments (1970) but they were ultimately replaced.[17][18][19] They mainly played parties for their "in" friends and one of their songs was considered for the soundtrack to Easy Rider, but the producers – who had also produced Head – eventually decided not to include it.[20] Release could not secure a record contract, and by 1970 Tork was once again a solo artist, as he later recalled, "I didn't know how to stick to it. I ran out of money and told the band members, 'I can't support us as a crew any more, you'll just have to find your own way'."[21]

Tork's record and movie production entity, the Breakthrough Influence Company (BRINCO), also failed to launch, despite such talent as future Little Feat guitarist, Lowell George.[2] He was forced to sell his house in 1970, and he and a pregnant Reine Stewart moved into the basement of David Crosby's home.[22] Tork was credited with co-arranging a Micky Dolenz solo single on MGM Records in 1971 ("Easy on You", b/w "Oh Someone"). An arrest and conviction for possession of hashish resulted in three months in an Oklahoma penitentiary in 1972.[23] He moved to Fairfax in Marin County, California, in the early 1970s, where he joined the 35-voice Fairfax Street Choir and played guitar for a shuffle blues band called Osceola. Tork returned to Southern California in the mid-1970s, where he married and had a son and took a job teaching at Pacific Hills School in Santa Monica for a year and a half. He spent a total of three years as a teacher of music, social studies, math, French and history and coaching baseball at a number of schools, but enjoyed some more than others.[14][24]

Peter Tork joined 'Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart' onstage for a guest appearance on their concert tour on July 4, 1976 in Disneyland. Later that year he reunited with Jones and Dolenz in the studio for the recording of the single "Christmas Is My Time of The Year" b/w "White Christmas", which saw a limited release for fan club members that holiday season.

Sire Records

A chance meeting with Sire Records executive Pat Horgan at the Bottom Line in New York City led to Tork recording a six-song demo, his first recording in many years. Recorded in summer 1980, it featured Tork, who sang, played rhythm guitar, keyboards, and banjo; it was backed by Southern rock band Cottonmouth, led by guitarist/singer/songwriter Johnny Pontiff, featuring Gerard Trahan on guitar/keyboards/vocals, Gene Pyle on bass guitar/vocals and Gary Hille on drums/percussion.

Horgan produced the six tracks (which included two Monkees covers, "Shades of Gray" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday"), with George Dispigno as engineer. The four other tracks were "Good Looker," "Since You Went Away" (which appeared on the Monkees 1987 CD "Pool It"), "Higher & Higher" and "Hi Hi Babe." Also present at the sessions were Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, and Tommy Ramone of the Ramones. The tracks were recorded at Blue Horizon House, 165 West 74th Street, home of Sire Records, but Seymour Stein, president of Sire, rejected the demo, stating "there's nothing there." Tork recorded a second set of demos in New York City, but little is known about these (other than the fact that one track was a yet another version of "Pleasant Valley Sunday" with an unknown rock band, and featured a violin solo).

During this time Tork appeared regularly on The Uncle Floyd Show broadcast on U-68 out of New Jersey.[25] He performed comedy bits and lip-synced the Sire recordings. Floyd claimed Tork was the "first real star" to appear on the show. (Later, Davy Jones, the Ramones, Shrapnel, and others would follow in his footsteps.)

In 1981 he released the 45 rpm single "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" (b/w "Higher And Higher") with "The New Monks". He also did some club performances and live television appearances, including taking part in a "Win A Date With Peter Tork" bit on Late Night with David Letterman.

Monkees reunion

In 1986, after a 1985 tour with Jones in Australia, Tork rejoined fellow Monkees Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz for a highly successful 20th anniversary reunion tour. Three new songs were recorded by Tork and Dolenz for a greatest hits release. The three Monkees recorded Pool It!. A decade later, all four group members recorded Justus, the first recording with all four members since 1968. The quartet performed live in the United Kingdom in 1997, but for the next several years only the trio of Tork, Dolenz and Jones toured together. The trio of Monkees parted ways in 2001 with a public feud but reunited in 2011 for a series of 45th anniversary concerts in England and the United States.

Since 1986, Tork has intermittently toured with his former band mates and also played with his own bands The Peter Tork Project and Shoe Suede Blues. In 1991, Tork formed a band called the Dashboard Saints and played at a pizza restaurant in Guerneville, California. In 1994, he released his first album length solo project, Stranger Things Have Happened, which featured brief appearances by Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith. In 1996, Tork collaborated on an album called Two Man Band with James Lee Stanley. The duo followed up in 2001 with a second release, Once Again.

In 2001, Tork took time out from touring to appear in a leading role in the short film Mixed Signals, written and directed by John Graziano.

In 2002, Tork resumed working with his band Shoe Suede Blues. The band performs original blues music, Monkees covers (blues versions of some), and covers of classic blues hits by greats such as Muddy Waters and has shared the stage with bands such as Captain Zig. The band toured extensively in 2006-7 following the release of the album "Cambria Hotel".[26]

Tork also had an occasional roles as Topanga Lawrence's father on the sitcom Boy Meets World, as well as a guest character on 7th Heaven. In 1995, Tork appeared as himself on the show Wings, bidding against Crystal Bernard's character for the Monkeemobile. In 1999, he appeared as the Band Leader of a wedding band in season one episode 13, "Best Man", of The King of Queens.

In early 2008, Tork added "advice columnist" to his extensive resume by authoring an online advice and info column called "Ask Peter Tork" at the webzine The Daily Panic.

In 2011, he joined Dolenz and Jones for the 2011 tour, An Evening with The Monkees: The 45th Anniversary Tour.[27]

In 2012, Peter joined Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith with a Monkees tour in honor of the album Headquarters 45th anniversary as well as in tribute to the late Davy Jones. The trio would tour again in 2013 and 2014.[28]

Cancer

On March 3, 2009, Tork reported on his website that he had been diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare, slow-growing form of head and neck cancer. A preliminary biopsy discovered that the cancer had not spread beyond the initial site. "It's a bad news, good news situation," explained Tork. "It's so rare a combination (on the tongue) that there isn't a lot of experience among the medical community about this particular combination. On the other hand, the type of cancer it is, never mind the location, is somewhat well known, and the prognosis, I'm told, is good." Tork underwent radiation treatment to prevent the cancer from returning.[29]

On March 4, 2009, Tork underwent extensive surgery in New York City, which was successful.

On June 11, 2009, a spokesman for Tork reported that his cancer had returned. Tork was reportedly "shaken but not stirred" by the news, and said that the doctors had given him an 80% chance of containing and shrinking the new tumor.[30]

In July 2009, while undergoing radiation therapy, he was interviewed by the Washington Post: "I recovered very quickly after my surgery, and I've been hoping that my better-than-average constitution will keep the worst effects of radiation at bay. My voice and energy still seem to be in decent shape, so maybe I can pull these gigs off after all." He continued to tour and perform while receiving his treatments.[31]

On September 15, 2009, Tork received an "all clear" from his doctor.

Tork documented his cancer experience on Facebook and encouraged his fans to support research efforts of the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation.[32]

Personal life

Tork currently resides in Mansfield, Connecticut.[33] He has been married four times, and has a child each from two of the marriages and one child from a relationship:

Song list

All songs written by Peter Tork or co-written by Tork as indicated.

Discography

Solo:[35][36]

with James Lee Stanley:[36]

with Shoe Suede Blues:[35]

References

  1. ↑ Mcdonald, Sam (May 7, 1999). "Local Indy Band Lucky Town Coasts To Radio". Daily Press.
  2. 1 2 Peter Tork biography, Monkees.com
  3. ↑ "Child to H. John Thorkelsons". The New York Times. February 28, 1942.
  4. ↑ Sherry Fisher (January 26, 2004). "Former Economics Professor John Thorkelson Dies". Advance. University of Connecticut.
  5. ↑ "Thorkelson, Virginia H. (Straus)". The Courant. April 29, 2002.
  6. ↑ "Marriage Announcement 2 – No Title". The New York Times. September 30, 1940.
  7. ↑ Robert E. Kohler (1991). "8". Developing American Science : Policies and Projects. Partners in Science: Foundations and Natural Scientists, 1900–1945. The University of Chicago Press. pp. 204–207. ISBN 0-226-45060-0.
  8. ↑ Carter, Nick (August 23, 1996). "Maritime Days sails back to port Seafaring fest carries a cargo of music, food and nautical pastimes".
  9. ↑ "Belle Straus Weil". April 3, 1964.
  10. ↑ Peter Tork speaking in a July 12, 2013 phone interview with Roger Friedensen, a correspondent for The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C.
  11. ↑ Zimmer, Dave. "Crosby, Stills & Nash: The Biography", Phildaelphia: Da Capo Press, 2008, p. 31.
  12. ↑ "Interview: Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork Talk Monkees Summer Tour, 'Headquarters' and What They Learned from Jimi Hendrix," Guitar World, July 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ Glenn A Baker Liner Notes The Monkees Talk Downunder LP
  14. 1 2 Peter Tork on jamming with Jimi Hendrix & working as a teacher in the 70's on YouTube – Strange Dave Show interview (2010)
  15. ↑ Riley Wyldflower - The Smog Song – Flower Bomb Songs (07 July 2012)
  16. ↑ There They Go, Walking Down the Street (and Into the Sunset) – Where's That Sound Coming From? (January 5, 2012)
  17. ↑ The Peter Tork 1969/1970 Thread – Steve Hoffman Music Forums (2010)
  18. ↑ Peter Tork reveals never before released information about his 60's band RELEASE on YouTube – Strange Dave Show interview (2010)
  19. ↑ Judy Mayhan Moments review – Dustbury.com (June 23, 2003)
  20. ↑ Reine Stewart Tork bio – Psycho Jello: A Monkees Fansite
  21. ↑ Hey, Hey, He's Back Again: Ex-Monkee Peter Tork has started a new band, which plays at Bogart's tonight, by Mike Boehm – LA Times (October 20, 1992)
  22. ↑ Monkees Biography – The Monkees: The Complete Internet Guide
  23. ↑ 'I Wanna Be Free,' They Sang, and 20 Years Later the Monkees Are No Longer Prisoners of the Past – People Magazine Vol. 24 No. 7 (August 12, 1985)
  24. ↑ "nndb.com/people". Nndb.com. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  25. ↑ "Peter Tork 6 of 8 on The Strange Dave Show". Blip.tv. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  26. 1 2 3 "Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues – Cambria Hotel". CD Baby. February 12, 2007. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  27. ↑ "Monkees announce 10-date concert tour". United Press International. February 21, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  28. ↑ "The Monkees to Tour U.S. This Summer".
  29. ↑ "Official Peter Tork site". Petertork.com. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  30. ↑ Peter Tork's Cancer Reoccurs, Hartford Courant
  31. ↑ Peter Tork and Jennifer LaRue Huget, Peter Tork's Cancer, In His Own Words, Washington Post The Checkup Blog, July 1, 2009
  32. ↑ Jennifer LaRue Huget, A Former Monkee with Cancer, Washington Post The Checkup Blog, June 22, 2009
  33. ↑ Tork, Peter (March 6, 2012). "Davy Jones' Extraordinary Groove". The Hartford Courant.
  34. ↑ "New Monkees Release – Mister Bob". Oldsongsnewsongsremix.com. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  35. 1 2 "Peter Tork". Petertork.bandcamp.com. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  36. 1 2 "Peter Tork | Discography". AllMusic. 1942-02-13. Retrieved 2014-05-24.

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