Mike Nesmith: Monkee & music pioneer

Listen to the Mike Nesmith story

In 1966, American TV executives wanted the "youth" market. They'd seen the success of the zany Beatle films and wanted some of that action. But they didn't have a band. So they invented one.

The Monkees was a TV show about a band, played by actors Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. But the actors became the band, taking over from the studio musicians and songwriters who created the Monkees hit records.

When the Monkees split, Mike Nesmith went on to succeed as a solo act, a songwriter, and a pioneer of video in music. It was Mike that pitched the idea of a music clip television show to Warner Brothers - that became MTV. Inventing ran in the Nesmith family. His mother, Bette, invented the typewriter correction fluid that became known as Liquid Paper.

Mike died in December. He was 78.