Peter Tork's Birthday

Peter Tork’s Music

Peter Halsten Thorkelson popularly known as Peter Tork was a native of Washington DC. Most publications would list him as born in 1944 but he was truly born Feb. 13th 1942. At the age of nine, he started schooling in piano playing and had shown talents for music. He studied other musical instruments like banjo and, acoustic and bass guitars.

Education:

He went to Windham High School in Willimantic, Connecticut. He was one of the members of the first graduating class of EO Smith High School in Storrs, Connecticut. He attempted college at Carleton College but unfortunately, he failed twice. This event made him move to New York City. He joined the folk music scene in Greenwich in 1960s where he met other musicians like Stephen Stills. Stills encouraged him to audition for a television series. After being accepted for the job, he became one of the members of the Monkees. The group developed as a character, a sitcom and a band, eventually.

The Music:

By heart he was a musician. He wrote songs like For Pete’s Sake for the Monkees in its second season. His colleagues described him as a highly intelligent person and they made it known even on interviews. Two years after, he quit the Monkees and formed his own band, The Release. However, this group never produced a single album and eventually disappeared. It was blamed on Peter Tork’s involvement in drugs and alcohol, which eventually led to quitting the entire show business. He shifted to teaching at school and as a baseball coach.

In 1976, he regrouped with his old band The Monkees. Having a chance to meet Pat Morgan (Sire Record Executive) who gave him a break. He was able to record 6 song demos. Backed by the band Cottonmouth led by Johnny Pontiff, he played Rhythm, Guitar, Keyboards and Banjos. It was in 1981 that he released his first 45 RPM single. He recorded further demos with Pat Horgan (Shades of Gray and Pleasant Valley Sunday). Horgan was also the one who booked Peter’s group at Max’s Kansas City and Right Track Inn in Freeport Long Island. Now, Horgan is said to manage the show Shadows of Knight.

In 1986, Peter Tork together with fellow Monkees Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz launched their 20th anniversary reunion tour. In 1987, they released Pool It! Further recordings were made even a decade after like Justus, which became their first recording ever having all the four members of the Monkees in it.

Since then, the four bandmates continued their projects like The Peter Tork Project and Peter founded Shoe Suede Blues. Solo performances were also made or in partnership with other artists such as James Lee Stanley. It was in 1994 that Peter released his solo album entitled Stranger Things Have Happened featuring appearances by other artist Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith.

Among the bandmates, he was the most musically accomplished. His three children share his life: Hallie Elizabeth (born 1970), Ivan Joseph (born 1975) and Erica Marie (born 1997).