What career did Peter Tork of the Monkees once pursue and what was his net worth?

The announcement of the death of guitarist Peter Tork of The Monkees covered the sadness of the community that grew up watching the comical antics of Tork on television.

Although The Monkees was a "made for T.V." group fashioned after Beatlemania, Tork was an accomplished musician in its own right. In addition, his kindness and generosity were reflected in the adorable character at the top of a mop that he described in the show.

Tork died February 21 at the age of 77, reports the New York Times. He fought a rare form of cancer since 2009. His son, Ivan Iannoli, said his death was due to complications of the disease. Tork was known to be extremely generous with his money. But he still managed to leave behind a net worth of $ 4 million. And even though he was born for music, he tried another career.

The band was loved on T.V. and the charts

Nobody expected Monkeys transcend television. But the band started to actively participate in the music. They have released several successful albums, including Last Train to Clarksville, "Daydream Believer", "Pleasant Valley Sunday".

And of course, the widely recognized theme of the show, "The Monkees," is reported by The New York Times. The show also won an Emmy in 1967 for its outstanding comedy series.

The band makes a separate tour of the show but eventually stops recording when their show is canceled. The Monkees returned to the scene in the 1980s for a reunion tour. Tork also released his first solo album, "Stranger Things Have Happened" in 1994. He formed the Shoe Sweden Blues group, which recorded and filmed until last year.

Tork was a real musician

Although Tork was chosen to play a character on television, he was actually a talented musician. He played several instruments and eventually became an important songwriter for The Monkees.

Initially, professional musicians were hired to create the musical side of the group. However, producers and fans were delighted to learn that Tork and band member Mike Nesmith were talented musicians. In addition, band members Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones could wear a melody.

Tork finally co-wrote several songs for the band. The band members also played instruments and voice in the studio. Tork wrote and sang the haunting ballad "Shades of Gray". Jones also sang on the track, but fans were delighted to hear Tork's voice, often absent from most Monkees songs.

He pursued this career after The Monkees

Although Tork became famous thanks to the Monkees, he tried another career at 34, reports People. People interviewed the musician in 1976 about living in the light of The Monkees. He said he was not too careful with the money he had earned. "I gave a lot of money to friends, assuming it would come back to me in the long run.

With money never coming back, Tork pursued a teaching career, which he seemed to enjoy. "I'm doing something important," he said. "I never do anything important." He taught English, mathematics, theater, oriental philosophy and rock band lessons at Pacific Hills Private School.

Tork was struggling to support his family at the time. He lived in a small house with his two little children and his partner, Barbara Iannoli. He told People that he always hoped to return to music one day.

Follow the cheat sheet on Facebook!