Boyce and Hart

Tommy Boyce
Background information
Birth nameSidney Thomas Boyce
Born(1939-09-29)September 29, 1939
Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
DiedNovember 23, 1994(1994-11-23) (aged 55)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Formerly ofDolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
The Tommy Band
Bobby Hart
Background information
Birth nameRobert Luke Harshman
BornFebruary 18, 1939
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 2025(2025-09-10) (aged 86)
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Formerly ofDolenz, Jones Boyce & Hart

Boyce and Hart were a musical and songwriting duo, who worked together in the 1960s and 1970s. Sidney Thomas "Tommy" Boyce (September 29, 1939 – November 23, 1994) and Bobby Hart (born Robert Luke Harshman; February 18, 1939 – September 10, 2025) wrote and produced hit records for The Monkees ("Last Train to Clarksville", "Valleri"), Jay and the Americans ("Come a Little Bit Closer"), Chubby Checker ("Lazy Elsie Molly"), and for themselves, with "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" and other songs.

Their biggest success was with the Monkees, as writers, producers and performers. Many of the early Monkees recordings featured Boyce and Hart's band, the Candy Store Prophets, before the Monkees were even selected from auditions. When the Monkees themselves took charge of their recordings, they still recorded Boyce and Hart's songs, and praised the duo to the public.

Ten years after the Monkees's heyday, two former members, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones, teamed up with Boyce and Hart, touring and performing the band's hits. They also issued a new album on Capitol Records.

On November 23, 1994, Boyce died by suicide by gunshot. He was 55 years old. [1]

Hart died on September 10, 2025, at age 86.[2]

References

  1. Simmonds, Jeremy (2008) [2006]. "November 1994". The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. p. 323. ISBN 978-1-55652-754-8. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  2. "Bobby Hart, Co-Writer of Monkees Hits, Dies at 86". Best Classic Bands. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.