Peter Tork, Bassist of The Monkees, Passes at 77

Peter Tork, the bassist of the popular 1960s made for television band The Monkees passed away at age 77 on February 21. Tork had been diagnosed with a rare form of tongue cancer in 2009. His website made an official statement which read, "Peter succumbed to a 10 year bout with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare cancer of the salivary glands.”

Tork was born Peter Halsten Thorkelson in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 1942. He was an accomplished musician in the folk and rock scenes in the early 1960s. He played keyboard, bass, banjo and harpsichord on the band’s recordings. Their biggest hits were “I’m a Believer” which hit number 1 in 1966 and 1967’s “Daydream Believer” which also reached the top spot.

The Monkees lasted two seasons after its debut in 1966 and went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.