The Monkees' lead singer, Peter Tork, has been with the band since its inception in the 1960s
Peter Tork , bassist and vocalist for The Monkees , died of unknown causes at age 77. He had been with the band since its inception for television in the 1960s. Tork's sister, Anne Thorkelson , confirmed his death to the Washington Post .
Tork's character on the TV series was that of a lovable goofball. In real life, he was an accomplished musician who wrote and played on many of the group's main songs.
He was diagnosed with a rare form of tongue cancer in 2009, but made a full recovery and was back on the road in 2012. The band toured again in 2016.
“While it’s true that my health has required more attention these days, I feel very well,” Tork wrote in October. “I’m enjoying this time with family and friends and making music. We’ll see what comes next. As for the rest, thank you for the well wishes. This is a private time and I won’t be posting updates.”
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