Micky Dolenz was the Monkees member who played drums and sang lead on many of the group’s recordings.
Dolenz was cast as one of the four Monkees for the television series that premiered in 1966. Although he had acting experience and was not initially an established drummer, he became the group’s principal studio drummer and one of its most recognizable lead vocalists. His bright tenor voice was central to several of the Monkees’ biggest hits.
Dolenz sang lead on recordings including “Last Train to Clarksville,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” and “Randy Scouse Git.” He also played drums on many performances, while session musicians were used extensively on the group’s studio tracks.
The other Monkees had distinct musical roles: Michael Nesmith was a guitarist and songwriter, Peter Tork played several instruments including bass and banjo, and Davy Jones was primarily known as a singer and performer. The television premise made them appear as a conventional band, but their recording process was more varied.