Probably most famous and well known as one of The Monkees back in the day (1960s), Mike Nesmith has died aged 78 of natural causes, less than a month before his 79th birthday. Michael Nesmith, singer, guitarist and songwriter with 1960s pop group The Monkees, were an American rock and pop band originally active between 1966 and 1970, with reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed.