Peter Halsten Thorkelson is a musician and actor born on 13th of February 1942 in Washington, DC, USA, much better known by his stage name Peter Tork and as the keyboardist and bass guitarist of the 1960s pop group “The Monkees”.
Have you ever wondered how rich Peter Tork is? According to sources it has been estimated that Peter Tork’s overall net worth is $4 million. Tork acquired his wealth thanks to his musical talent and by being a member of “The Monkees” which added significantly to his net worth over the years. Since he is still active in the music industry, his net worth continues to grow.
Peter Tork Net Worth $4 Million
Tork was born in Washington D.C. I- n spite of many incorrect reports that his birth place was New York City – of Norwegian descent from his father’s side and on his mother’s side he has German, Jewish and British roots. When he was nine, he started studying the piano and showed his deep interest in music by learning to play several other instruments, including the banjo, and acoustic and bass guitars. After finishing Windham High School in Willimantic, Connecticut, he enrolled at Carleton College, however, soon after, he moved to New York and became a part of the early ‘60s folk music scene. In 1965, Tork decided to pursue his luck in California, where he auditioned for a new TV show about a band modeled after the Beatles. Together with Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, Tork got one of the roles for what later became the popular band “The Monkees”. This sitcom debuted in 1966 and followed the band’s development, with the music played on the show soon hitting first place on pop charts around the world with songs like “I’m a Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville”. Thanks to a large number of fans, the group sold millions of records and even toured with Jimi Hendrix. In order to show they were more than just a “teenage” group, the members of the group wrote most of the songs and played many instruments between them for 1967’s “Headquarters”. This was a success and showed the critics their true talent and knowledge. They net worth of Tork increased considerably during this period.
Around 1968, when the band began to fall apart, Tork started to build his solo career. However, he didn’t achieve much success in this venture. Peter then formed a band called “Peter Tork And/Or Release” with his girlfriend Reine Stewart who played drums and two other members, but the band couldn’t secure record contract, and by 1970 Tork was a solo artist again.
In the early 1970s, Peter moved to Fairfax, California where he started singing in the 35-voice Fairfax Street choir and playing the guitar for a band called “Osceola”. A few years later, he returned to Southern California where he taught at Pacific Hills School in Santa Monica for three years, teaching various subjects including music, maths, social studies and history. In the summer of 1980, after meeting with Sire Records executive, Pat Horgan, Tork recorded six song demos and during this time, he appeared regularly on “The Uncle Floyd Show” in which he performed comedy bits. A year later, Peter released a 45 rpm single “I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone” with “The New Monks”. He subsequently reunited with his former band members for “The Monkees” 20th anniversary, and since then, Tork has collaborated with Dolenz and Jones on various reunion shows and tours. Some of his latest work includes several solo albums, among others “Cambria Hotel”, released in 2007. He also performs with a group called “Shoe Suede Blues” which he formed in the ‘90s.
When it comes to his personal life, Peter Tork has been married four times and has three children: a daughter from his second marriage with Reine Stewart, a son with third wife Barbara Iannoli, and a daughter from a relationship with Tammy Sustek. He has been married to Pam since 2013. In March 2009, Peter announced he was struggling with a rare form of disease, adenoid cystic carcinoma, but by September the same year, after surgeries and radiation therapies, he successfully defeated the cancer.
"Headquarters 45th anniversary", Wonderwall Music (1968), "Cambria Hotel" (2006-2007), "Live/Backstage at the Coffee Gallery" (2006), Once Again (2001)
[on the death of fellow Monkee Davy Jones] It is with great sadness that I reflect on the sudden passing of my long-time friend and fellow adventurer, David Jones. His talent will be much missed; his gifts will be with us always. Adios to the Manchester Cowboy.
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[late 1960s] "I don't believe in 'My country right or wrong'. My country wrong needs my help."
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The longest I've ever gone without playing [guitar] is two or three days. It keeps me going.
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You should be a hero to yourself. And if you're not... check it out.
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Fact
1
Peter and Davy Jones together did the 1986 Sound Of The Monkee's Australian Tour.
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Peter join Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz on May to July for 45th Anniversary World Tour in 2011.
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Beginning in April 2001, he joined Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones for the Monkees 35th Anniversary Reunion. [2001]
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Guest appearances with Jeff Pitchell & The Texas Flood, continues to tour with Shoe Suede Blues, joined by Aura3 on dates beginning August 2005. [2005]
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currently playing with his band Shoe Suede Blues, and Two Man Band who has been joined by the group Aura3. Both acts continue to tour all over the US. [2004]
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Resigned from the Monkees tour in 2001. Played his last Monkees concert on August 31, 2001. [2001]
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He has been touring small venues with musician/singer James Lee Stanley since early 1996.
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Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues released their second CD, Cambria Hotel, in February of 2007. Band member Richard Mikuls (formerly with Rufus Feat, Chaka Khan) on guitar/vocals died of heart failure in 2008. Other band members include Arnold Jacks on bass/backing vocals, John Palmer on drums/backing vocals and Tork on guitar, piano, banjo and vocals. Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues toured The United Kingdom immediately following the release of the new CD. [February 2007]
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Attended E.O. Smith High School in northeastern Connecticut. Another alumnus was Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.
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Has been diagnosed with a rare form of head and neck cancer and underwent surgery to remove the growth on his tongue [March 5, 2009].
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The Monkees were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6675 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
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Tork and his grandmother were close; when he became a Monkee, "Grams" was one of his staunchest supporters, running a fan club for him, keeping a huge scrap book on The Monkees and checking local record stores to see that they kept Monkees records in stock.
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While with The Monkees, Tork was involved in the group's most famous musical outtake, "Lady's Baby," a song released in 1995 as a bonus track on the reissue of the group's fifth LP, and inspired by Karen Harvey Hammer, the wife of his business partner Bob Hammer. The Hammers had an infant son, Justin. Peter insisted on getting the cooing of little Justin recorded for use on "Lady's Baby," which required following the baby around the studio with a microphone. Peter's use of baby cooing on a pop album predated by some 30 years the practice later incorporated by country beauties Martina McBride and Sara Evans, who used the cooing of their own children on some of their songs.
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Peter and his close friend James Lee Stanley have released two CDs of their music. Among the songs used is a cover of "Pleasant Valley Sunday."
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Was actually the first Monkee to play an instrument on one of their records ("Papa Gene's Blues"), after writer/producer Michael Nesmith insisted Peter be allowed to add a guitar part.
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The most accomplished musician of The Monkees, Tork plays 12 different instruments; his choice "depends on what kind of music I'm playing." While producers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart admired Tork's playing, he was almost never given lead vocals on the Monkees' records. Box-set and CD bonus tracks from the 1980s and 1990s included several rarely-heard Tork songs and vocals.
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Taught algebra and coached baseball at a private school in the late 1970s; also worked as a singing waiter. Said later he'd have been pleased to join Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones in their reunion with Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, had they asked.
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Declined an invitation to rejoin The Monkees for a McDonald's TV commercial, as he is a vegetarian (Michael Nesmith also declined, because there was no promise of further work).
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Peter has a daughter named Hallie Elizabeth (b. 25 January 1970) with Reine Stewart) and a son named Ivan Joseph (b. 22 December 1975) with Barbara Iannoli) and a daughter named Erica Marie (b. 15 June 1997) with Tammy Sustek.
20
When Stephen Stills was turned down by The Monkees (1966) producers because his teeth were crooked and his hair was falling out, he recommended a local folk musician who looked like him named Peter Tork.
$4 Million
