Michael Nesmith Net Worth

How much is Michael Nesmith worth?

About Michael Nesmith

Michael Nesmith was the only child of Warren and Bette Nesmith (née McMurray), who were divorced when he was four. Even though Michael struggled in school and self-described as a “failure” growing up, it turns out that he spent a lot of his adolescence writing music. His mother had two previous marriages, one of which ended in divorce. The tiny family eventually relocated to Dallas to be nearer to his mother Bette’s family, and she started working as a secretary. Bette, who was always diligent, climbed the corporate ladder and eventually became executive secretary at Texas Bank and Trust. When Michael was 13 years old, Bette created the “Liquid Paper” typewriter correction fluid. She continued to expand Liquid Paper Corporation into a global business before selling it to Gillette in 1979 for $48 million.

“Loose Salute by Mike Nesmith and the First National Band is one of the hippest country rock albums in some time, certainly the most listenable.” — Rolling Stone

Michael left out of Dallas’ Thomas Jefferson High School, where he had been involved in choral and dramatic pursuits, without receiving a diploma, and enlisted in the US Air Force. He finished his basic training and received his aviation mechanic training there. He was honorably discharged in 1962 and also obtained a GED. Nesmith traveled to Los Angeles to become involved in the city’s music scene after spending some time in Memphis and developing an interest in and ear for folk music. He joined forces with John London to form the folk-rock band Mike and John soon after his arrival in the early 1960s.

He also released songs as a solo performer and held a 1965 Monkees audition. Nesmith earned the band its start by persuading the record label to let them record original songs even though they tended to use other people’s writing. The Monkees rose to fame in the late 1960s thanks to his compositions “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” and “Listen to the Band.” The first two Monkees albums spent 30 weeks at the top of the charts in 1966 and 1967 thanks to the singles “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer” as well as the albums’ first two singles.

Critics grew less and less impressed as the band continued to change in order to satisfy the demands of the rock and roll crowd by playing instruments and modifying their sound. While the band continued to have financial success, they also started a slow ascent. Despite the fact that their album Headquarters didn’t have any apparent successes, it reached number 1. In 1968, Nesmith released his debut solo album, Wichita Train Whistle Songs, in an effort to gain popularity as a solo performer. Nesmith departed the Monkees in 1969 after growing more unhappy with the lack of creative freedom.

Nesmith reformed the First National Band with his friend John London on bass, John Ware on drums, and Red Rhodes, one of country music’s best steel guitarists. Their first two albums, Magnetic South and Loose Salute, were released in 1970 after they were quickly signed to RCA Victor. According to Rolling Stone magazine at the time, Mike Nesmith and the First National Band’s album Loose Salute is one of the hippest country rock albums in a while and unquestionably the most listenable.

Nesmith started recording and performing under his own name after playing for the Nevada Fighter the following year with “The Second National Band.” He had also developed into a prolific songwriter for other musicians, perhaps best known for penning Linda Ronstadt‘s song “Different Drum.” Nesmith got involved in the 1980s with his production company Pacific Arts, which was responsible for making many of the music videos of the time. He also worked on the cult classics Repo Man and Elephant Parts.

After Peter Tork’s passing in 2019, Nesmith and Dolenz went on tour as “The Monkees Present: The Mike and Micky Show” Nesmith unexpectedly provided vocals and instrumentals to the Monkees’ 50th anniversary album Good Times!. Several of the taped shows were featured on the 2020 CD The Monkees Live: The Mike & Micky Show. However, Nesmith’s illness, which required a month in the hospital, forced a cancellation of the tour. Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings, published by Real Gone Music, featured previously unreleased music from his post-Monkees country-rock period. Nesmith’s condition continued to deteriorate, and in December 2021, he passed suddenly.

Best Michael Nesmith Songs

• “Little Red Rider”
• “Joanne”
• “Silver Moon”
• “Some of Shelly’s Blues”

Selected Michael Nesmith Discography

• The Wichita Train Whistle Sings (1968)
• Magnetic South (1970)
• Loose Salute (1970)
• Nevada Fighter (1971)
• Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1 (1972)
• And the Hits Just Keep on Comin’ (1972)
• Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash (1973)