The acclaimed songwriting duo, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart are considered to be one of the most influential teams of popular music in the 60s and 70s. Boyce and Hart played a pivotal role in creating the Monkee sound as composers and producers of their most recognizable hits including the Monkees Theme, Last Train to Clarksville, I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone, Valleri,
I Wanna Be Free and Words .
Boyce and Hart went on to enjoy a successful career as a performing duo penning several more Top 10 Hits including, I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight, Out & About and Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend). Together they were featured guests on the 60s TV talk shows, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Flying Nun, and were featured in the top Teen Magazines.
Additionally, whether as a writing duo or as co-writers with others, they have penned some of our favorite classic hits, such as, Come A Little Bit Closer, Hurts So Bad, Pretty Little Angel Eyes, Keep On Singing, Under The Moon of Love, and the theme to the s soap opera Days of Our Lives. Their songs have been covered by hundreds of artists around the world, used in numerous movies and television shows, and in commercials.
In 1968 the duo campaigned to support Robert F. Kennedy in his run for the Presidency, and they spearheaded the "Let Us Vote", or "L.U.V." campaign, which ultimately helped to lower the voting age to 18 in the US (it had been 21).
Although, during the early seventies Tommy and Bobby continued to be friends and write together, they began to involve themselves in creative and successful projects independent of each other. 1975 found Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart teaming up again, but this time with Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones of The Monkees. The foursome recorded two albums for Capitol Records and in 1976 embarked on a successful world tour to commemorate the 10 Year Anniversary of the Monkees as “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart”.
Decades later, the impact of Boyce and Hart still resonates. Tune into any oldies station, and at least once during the course of any given day you will very likely hear a Boyce and Hart composition.
Tommy and Bobby remained the best of friends until Tommy's untimely death Nov. 23, 1994. Bobby currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife MaryAnn and Tommy's widow Caroline lives in Nashville.
THE BOOK: PSYCHEDELIC BUBBLE GUM
From the man who wrote the songs that outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in 1967-1968, comes the story of the first decades of his life in Hollywood and New York.
Immerse yourself in Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award nominated songwriter Bobby Hart’s world as he shares the story behind his success; from humble beginnings comes a musical goliath.
Psychedelic Bubble Gum is an exclusive glimpse into Hart’s personal journey as he moves on the fast track to fame. This vivid narrative follows Hart’s gradual rise in the music industry as half of the duo Boyce and Hart, as he and his friend and partner Tommy Boyce wrote the songs that launched the Monkees to stardom, and eventually reaching over a hundred million in sales. Along the way is all the heartbreak and drama that accompanies fame and fortune―an uprooted life, conflicted morals, and the sacrifice of his wholesome high school sweetheart Becky.
With unbending sincerity, Hart details a life of extravagance, betrayal, loss, disillusionment, and an unstoppable personal struggle to find spiritual balance, peace, and love. Psychedelic Bubble Gum is a rollercoaster ride through the 1960s and 1970s during America’s whirlwind era of free speech, mysticism, and psychedelic pop culture, and, of course, rock ‘n’ roll. Packed with intimate behind-the-scenes encounters with pop star royalty, Psychedelic Bubble Gum is tempered by humor, honesty, and a singular understanding of the industry.
THE SUBJECT OF A 2014 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM “THE GUYS WHO WROTE EM”
Feature length documentary film about songwriting duo Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart. It provides an in-depth, personal perspective on the complicated relationships surrounding Boyce & Hart's unique story. Behind-the-scenes anecdotes are told with humor and raw openness by narrator, Bobby Hart, and the subjects themselves in new interviews (Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Keith Allison and Kim Fowley), as well as vintage commentary from the late Tommy Boyce. Their story is told through previously unseen rare archival films and images.
www.officialboyceandhart.com
In connection with the 50th anniversary of the unexpected hit series "Gilligan's Island," Dawn (who portrayed the lovable farm girl next door, Mary Ann Sommers), has released "A Guide To Life: What Would Mary Ann Do?" through Taylor Trade Publishing and Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
Dawn says that Mary Ann fits today just as she fit two generations ago, because she is timeless. In a world where the industry and society has been celebrating their "Bad girls," Mary Ann continues to be, for many, the breathe of fresh air as the “Good Girl.” Pop culture is too powerful and too pervasive to be controlled by parents, siblings or colleagues. It can be confused with reality. This leaves young people in a vulnerable position - they have to make decisions that are normally beyond their maturity. Dawn discusses decisions we make in life and even goes straight to the BIG DECISION and delivers her concept of the meaning of sex. In a world of participation trophies, easy praise, and entitlement attitudes, how do you define achievement? Dawn describes it as a journey of failure and learning and tenacity that requires a constant personal re-examination of what success really means.
