Michael Nesmith
Houston, TX
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article: Mar- Apr 2013 (#24-X)
Now here’s a guy who truly has done it all ! I am going to try to dis-spell all the misinformation surrounding Nesmith, however there is a lot to cover …
> A Journey With Michael Blessing < Papa Nez was born Robert Michael Nesmith: 30 Dec 1942 in Houston, Texas to Bette (Betty Clair McMurray /Nesmith- Graham 23 Mar 1924 –12 May 1980) & Warren A Nesmith (1919–1984). Warren & Bette were married in 1942 & Divorced in 1946. Michael was an only child raised in Dallas/ Ft. Worth. Bette created "Paint Out" in 1955 renamed "Liquid Paper” in 1958 (NOT: "White Out")& then sold the rights to Gillette in 1979 for $47 million (Nez inherited half of this amount in 1980). Mike started writing poetry about age 15. Nez enlisted into the US Air-force in 1960 & received his G.E.D. while enlisted, he was a mechanic and has said "I was kicked out of the Air-Force (in 1962), cuz I flipped over a general's plane". Mike enrolled in San Antonio Collage in 1962, he also began playing guitar around age 19 to regain dexterity in his hand after a firecracker accident, in collage Mike meet his long time bassist John London (John Carl Kuehne 6Feb1942 –12Feb2000) and Nez's 1st wife Phyllis Ann Barbour (married Jun'64, they had 3 children together: Christian DuVal: 31Jan1965, Jonathan: 4Feb1968 & Jessica Buffler: 10Sep1970 & then divorced in Mar'75) > Don’t Call On Me < Nez was part of the "New Christy Minstrels" & wrote songs recorded by other artists such as: Linda Ronstadt, Frankie Laine, Paul Butterfield & Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Nez himself became a recording artist in early 1963 when he released his 1st 45 Single "Wanderin b/w Well Well" on Highness Records & later that year "How Can You Kiss Me b/w Just A Little Love" on Omnibus. In 1965 Nez changed his performing name to Michael Blessing, then auditioned for and got the part on the TV Show "The Monkees" & signed with Colpix Records (same label as Davy Jones) & released "The New Recruit b/w Journey With" In Oct, then in Jan 1966 Nez release his 4th 45 Single (before The Monkees 1st record was released in Aug 1966) "Until It's Time For You To Go b/w What Seems To Be The Trouble Officer" however a 5th single was re-issued to capitalize on Nesmith's Monkees' fame "Just A Little Love b/w Curson Terr" on Edan Records in 1966. Nesmith was hired for "The Monkees" project with a 7 year contract from 1965- 1972, he wrote some 46 songs for The Monkees project & was on 8 albums & 11 singles, 58 TV episodes, 1 feature film & 1 TV Special. Nez recorded his 1st Solo Album in Jul 1968 "Wichita Train Whistle Sings" Nez also had an affair with Nurit Wilde (born in Israel) & gave birth to Nesmith's 3rd son Jason Nesmith in 7Aug1968. Nesmith announced he was leaving The Monkees in Nov 1969 but did full fill some commercial work in 1970 as a Monkee. Papa Nez formed the "First National Band" in early 1970 with John London, Red Rhodes (Orville J. 30 Dec 1930 in Alton, IL. - 20 Aug 1995) & John Ware on drums from "The Stone Poneys" & then released 6 LPs on RCA, the 1st being "Magnetic South" Jul 1970 & 2 Singles the 1st has a Non-LP flipside "Rose City Chimes" the 2nd is the #21 Hit "Joanne" in Aug70. His 2nd album "Loose Salute” was in Nov 1970 with the #42 Hit "Silver Moon" in Jan71. > The Crippled Lion < The 'First National Band' toured throughout 1970 I own, the only known to exist, tour poster, for the concert; Fri 20 Nov 1970 Des Moines, Iowa @ KRNT Theatre, (this poster is featured in the book "Total Control" on Page #138, (it was to be used in a "Nesmith CD Boxset" on Rio Records in 1994). Dick Youngs was the MC for this show & told me this about the concert "Nesmith was riding on the hit Joanne, & Silver moon was just out, yet only about 200 people showed up for the show, so at the beginning of the show Nesmith asked everyone to move forward to the front closer to the stage" John Ware had this to say, "The end of the band came in late '70 in Des Moines I think, there was a huge argument within in the band & John (London) & I quit". Then in May 1971 the band release a 3rd LP "Nevada Fighter" with the minor charting hit "Nevada Fighter" 2 other singles were released from this album. Of this trio of LPs 10 songs were hold over’s from Nesmith's Monkees stint, also if you play side #2 of all 3 LPs in a row, this comprises a musical tale of the old west. Nesmith releases a 4th album as "The 2nd National Band" the LP is"Tantamount To Treason" in Feb'72 with the hardrock "Mama Rocker" as a 45, Nez performs in Phoenix 12-15 Apr '72 . At this time RCA asks Nesmith "When are you going to deliver another hit like 'Joanne'?" so Nez releases "And The Hits Just Keep A Coming" Aug'72 a single is released but again not a hit. > I’ve Never Loved Anyone More < It is about this time Nez's 1st marriage ends & Long time friend Bill Martin creates a film in 1972 "Northville Cemetary Massacre" (but released in 1976, a budget VHS was released under a different title) Nesmith was asked to write the score for free! Nez releases his final LP for RCA "Pretty Much Your Stand Ranch Stash" in Oct'73, with 1 single. Of the last 3 LPs 5 songs are Monkees hold over’s. Nez also produced & wrote with other artists like: Iain Matthews, Bert Jansch & Linda Hargrove , when Electra Records gave Nez an off shoot label titled Countryside (the label was an photo of an Orange, the fruit, like the Beatles Apple), but was shut down about 1 ½ years later. Nez did not tour a lot but he did play shows from time to time here is the setlist to a Rare Live CD: 28 April 1974 in London @ The Roundhouse Joanne Some Of Shelly's Blues Silver Moon Different Drum Propinquity The Grand Ennui Wax Minute Tomorrow And Me The Upside Of Goodbye Roll With The Flow Marie's Theme > Dance Between The Raindrops < Then the changes really kick in, Nez opens his own record label "Pacific Arts" Oct'74 then releases "The Prison" boxset a record with a book in late 1974 & then re-releases it in Mar'75. Pacific Arts released many LPs of relativity unknown artists. Nesmith did do an unusual show of live music of "The Prison" with a ballet performing on the main stage with him off to the side reading the book and playing music. Nez marries for a 2nd time to Kathryn Bild in Feb 1976 (until Aug 1988). In Mar 1977 Nez put out "From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing" with Thee 1st Official Video Single "Rio" though it did not score high on the charts it became a huge TV hit as Nesmith created the show “PopClips" . Nez & band did do a brief tour in 1977, then released his 1st 'Live Album' "Live At The Palais" in Aug'78 (the commercial for the LP is hysterical). In May 1979 Nez released "Infinite Rider On The Big Dogma" with 2 singles both having videos to match "Magic" & the minor hit"Crusin" again because of "PopClips" which ran on the "Nickleodeon" channel from late 1980 to early 1981 for 1 season of 30 min. episodes when the show was purchased by Warner Cable & turned the idea into MTV (Des Moines was #9 of the 10 test markets). One of Nesmith's final live performances was in Oct 1979 @ Compton Terrace in Phoenix, AZ. (I have this show on tape). > Capsule < Staring in 1980 Nez went on a promotional tour announcing "The audio only record is dead, moving forward there will only be VideoMusic" in keeping with this statement Nez turned towards VHS & Film releases in 1981 "Elephant Parts" a comedy segment video for which Nez won the 1st ever "Video Grammy" in 1982 the film "Time Rider" in 1984 the film "Repo Man" In Mar '85 the TV Special "Television Parts" leading to the short lived TV Series (9 episodes) "Television Parts" in Jun '85 when I interviewed Jerry Seinfeld (in MPLS Sep 2001) I asked him about his memories of appearing on "Television Parts" he replied "I remember it very well & very fondly, it was the 1st time I was on prime time TV, I played the 'Sock Detective' how do you know about that?" then in 1986 the VHS "Dr. Duck's Super-Secret All-Purpose Sauce" (a part #2 of 'Television Parts") in Feb 1987 the film "Square Dance" then in Mar 1987 "Burglar" followed by the film "Tapeheads" in 1988, Nez sent out a 'promo only VHS' to promote the film. > Total Control < In the late 80's Nez met his 3rd wife Victoria Kennedy (who he married in Apr 2000 & divorced in 2011) also in the late 80s Nez starts releasing Audio Albums with "Newer Stuff" in 1989 followed by "Older Stuff" in 1991 Nez goes out & performs for the 1st time in over 10 years in 1991 in Jacksonville, OR. @ Britt Festival, Nez records & releases "Live @ The Britt" on VHS (in 1999 the CD comes out) & to everyone's surprise releases "Tropical Campfires" in Jul'92, & then does a short tour. I was able to see Nez for the 1st time on Tour 15 Feb 1992 Chicago @ Cubby Bear. The beginning of the next year Jan'93 Nez is broadcast on "Austin City Limits" (from a 1992 performance). With a renewed interest in writing & recording Nez opens "Rio Records" 1994 & releases "The Garden" (the follow up to 'The Prison' 1974) & begins to re-release his earlier catalog on CD on the Awarness label, & begins pre-production on a 4 CD boxset, of which I was supplying some material for the accompanying booklet, about the same time the 'stuff hits the fan' Nesmith's Pacific Arts Co. has had a distribution deal with PBS since 1990, over time, with neither party happy with the other, several lawsuits were filed & in 1994 the suit, shuts down operations of Pacific Arts & in 1995 the law suit shut down his newly opened ‘Rio Records' however in Feb 1999 Nez & Co. were awarded $48 million in damages. > Dynaflow < In 1997 Nesmith returned to The Monkees for a new studio LP "Justus" a TV Special "Hey, Hey, It's The Monkees" & UK Tour. In early 2000 Nez launched www.VideoRanch3d.com selling his products & "on-Line" performances. Nez finally released a new CD "Rays" in 2006.Papa Nez being a prolific writer released his 1st novel "The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora" in 1998 followed by in 2009 his 2nd "The America Gene" 2009. Nesmith, Dolenz & Tork toured the US last year. Nez went out solo last year and is on tour now. *Michael Nesmith of The MONKEES; will be performing Fri 5 April 2013 at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul his 2nd Solo tour in 21 years. I have been getting this question asked a lot "Will Nez be performing a lot of MONKEES songs" the answer ”Sorry No, "Papa Gene's Blues" & “Tapioca Tundra" however he does perform many songs he recorded 1st under the MONKEES name & can be found on "Missing Links1- 3" but did not release until his 1st few RCA solo LPs like "Some Of Shelly's Blues" & "Propinquity" I remember seeing Nez on TV in 1979 for a "Where are they now" segment & my Dad said "What has he really done outside of The Monkees”, with all due respect Dad... Michael Nesmith, well he did it all. In Nov 2013 My very Good Friends Rose, Anite & Fil were able to our copy of "(meet) The Monkees 1966 "Papa J" Cover autographed by Nez to the Shop ... my life is not complete. Until the next time.... MrZERo (RLSchwinden) "Mr. Zero's" Est. 2009 http://www.mrzeros.com 1744 Lexington Ave N Roseville/ St. Paul, MN. 55113 651-489-0207
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