DAVID GREENE, HOST: All right. This morning we are remembering Peter Tork, the bassist for the Monkees. He died yesterday at the age of 77. Tork left college early to pursue music in New York City. And it was there where he met Stephen Stills, who would rise to fame as part of Crosby, Stills and Nash.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Stills was rejected for a role on the NBC sitcom "The Monkees" and recommended Tork for the job.</s>THE MONKEES: (Singing) Hey, hey, we're the Monkees. And people say we monkey around.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: "The Monkees" debuted in 1966 and won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.</s>DAVID GREENE, HOST: Their show ran for two years. The stars did not write their own songs or even play their own instruments, leaving some with the impression that they weren't real musicians. But that changed when The Monkees released their 1967 album "Headquarters." This time, the band was involved in the writing and recording process. Tork shared vocals on the song "Shades Of Gray."</s>THE MONKEES: (Singing) I remember when the answers seemed so clear. We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear.</s>DAVID GREENE, HOST: Peter Tork left the band in 1969. He pursued a solo career but struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. He later became a high school teacher in Santa Monica, Calif. Tork did join the remaining members of The Monkees on their reunion tours.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: And as became clear yesterday as news spread that Peter Tork had died of cancer, he left a warm spot in millions of people's hearts.</s>THE MONKEES: (Singing) Cheer up, sleepy...
Peter Tork, bassist of The Monkees, died Thursday at the age of 77.