Robert Michael Nesmith (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, and novelist. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series The Monkees (1966–1968). His songwriting credits include “Different Drum”, which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt. His mother invented the typewriter correction Liquid Paper. He died of heart failure in 2021 at age 78.
“It’s so funny,” Micky Dolenz told Ultimate Classic Rock , when he included the song on his Dolenz Sings Nesmith album. “He went to the [Monkees] producers in the early days and brought ’em ‘Different Drum.’ He played it for them, and they said, ‘Well, that’s nice, but it’s not a Monkees tune.’ He said, ‘Wait a minute. I am one of the Monkees.’ They said, ‘Yeah, yeah, we know. But no thanks. It’s really not a Monkees tune.’ So he said, ‘Okay,’ and gave it to Linda Ronstadt, and look what happened.”
Read More: Michael Nesmith’s Rejected Monkees Song Hit for Linda Ronstadt | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/michael-nesmith-linda-ronstadt-different-drum/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
