Nesmith’s nickname among fans: Papa Nez, is forever linked to the special Monkees tune written by the guitarist, “Papa Gene’s Blues,” in 1966. The song appeared on The Monkees’ debut album.

The Monkees were the creation of filmmaker Bob Rafelson and his producing partner Bert Schneider. Rafelson’s original idea for a fictional rock band predated the success of the Beatles, but the ...

At the 50th-anniversary show in NYC, Papa Nez joined Dolenz and Tork via Skype to sing “Papa Gene’s Blues.” “Me and Magadelena” was a career-capping ballad written by another fan, Death ...