Bobby Hart, the prolific songwriter who co-wrote some of The Monkees’ most iconic hits including “Last Train to Clarksville” and the group’s theme song, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home following a long illness. He was 86.
Hart’s wife MaryAnn confirmed his death after his health had been declining since breaking his hip in 2024. His friend and co-author Glenn Ballantyne also confirmed the news to multiple outlets.
As one half of the legendary songwriting duo Boyce and Hart, Hart partnered with Tommy Boyce to create the musical foundation for The Monkees’ massive success in the 1960s. The pair wrote the group’s number one hit “Last Train to Clarksville” in 1966, along with other chart-toppers including “Valleri,” which reached number three on the Hot 100, “I Wanna Be Free,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” and “Words.”
Micky Dolenz, the last surviving member of The Monkees, issued a tribute statement describing Hart as someone whose talent and calmness brought peace during chaotic times. Dolenz noted that Hart made vital contributions not only to the group’s popular success but to “the essence, the very spirit of the entire venture.”
Beyond The Monkees, Boyce and Hart’s songwriting catalog included numerous television themes and hits for other artists. They wrote the theme song for the long-running soap opera “Days of Our Lives” and penned “Hurt So Bad,” which became a number 10 hit for Little Anthony and the Imperials in 1965. The song later gained renewed popularity when Linda Ronstadt’s cover version reached number eight in 1980.
The duo also wrote “Come a Little Bit Closer” for Jay and the Americans, which climbed to number three on the Billboard chart in 1964. Hart contributed to the instrumental arrangements as well, playing the Vox continental organ on The Monkees’ version of “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.”
Hart achieved success as a performer alongside his songwriting career. Recording as the duo Boyce and Hart, they released three albums between 1967 and 1969 and scored their own hit with “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight,” which reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and earned gold status.
The pair made television appearances on popular sitcoms including “Bewitched,” “The Flying Nun,” and “I Dream of Jeannie.” In the mid-1970s, they reunited with former Monkees members Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones to form the supergroup Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart, releasing one studio album in 1976 and touring together.
Hart was born Robert Luke Harshman on February 18, 1939, in Phoenix, Arizona. He changed his name at a manager’s suggestion when he began his solo career with the 1960 single “Girl in the Window.” After relocating to Los Angeles at age 18, he met Tommy Boyce in 1959, and the two became friends before achieving their first success in New York.
Hart described their early career as working like “short order cooks” for Screen Gems Columbia Music, creating songs rapidly for various artists as needed. The duo’s approach involved tailoring their compositions to match specific artists’ sounds, often completing songs within days of receiving requests.
In addition to his musical achievements, Hart earned an Oscar nomination in 1983 for “Over You,” a song from the film “Tender Mercies” starring Robert Duvall, which he co-wrote with Austin Roberts. Boyce and Hart also engaged in political activism, releasing the single “L.U.V.” (Let Us Vote) as part of a campaign to lower the voting age to 18.
Hart wrote an autobiography titled “Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem into Miracles,” detailing his experiences in the music industry. His songwriting partner Tommy Boyce died by suicide in 1994 at age 55.
Hart reflected on The Monkees’ enduring legacy, noting that the records remained fresh after many years and expressing gratitude for creating music that was “married to visuals.” He indicated that this combination would likely ensure the songs would have a life that would outlast his own.
Hart is survived by his wife MaryAnn, sons Bobby Jr. and Bret from his first marriage to Becky Brill, two sisters, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Monkees announced his death on their official Instagram account, remembering him as a “songwriting dynamo” who would be remembered for his incredible talent and innate spirituality.
