Rolling Stone reported the announcement from Nesmith’s family saying that he had died of natural causes at home, surrounded by family.
Nesmith was known as the member of the 1960s band with the Texas drawl and who frequently wore a wool cap.
He wrote many of the band’s hit songs like “Mary, Mary” and “The Girl I Knew Somewhere.”
The Monkees was created for television and was at one point as popular as The Beatles, TMZ reported.
Behind the scenes, Nesmith was vocal that did not have creative control. He pushed to break away from record producer Don Kirshner in 1967, according to Rolling Stone.
Originally, the band did not play the instruments on their hit show, TMZ reported.
He said in a 2012 Rolling Stone interview about that time, “We were kids with our own taste in music and were happier performing songs we liked — and/or wrote — than songs that were handed to us.” He added, “It made for a better performance. It was more fun. That this became a bone of contention seemed strange to me, and I think to some extent to each of us — sort of ‘what’s the big deal — why won’t you let us play the songs we are singing?’”
The Monkees broke up in the late 1960s and he formed the First National Band, a classic country-rock band, producing three albums, Rolling Stone reported.
He also recorded solo albums during the 1970s.
Nesmith, whose mother invented Liquid Paper, also had an idea for a show called “PopClips” which, according to TMZ, evolved into MTV.
Nesmith reunited with The Monkees in 2012 and embarked on reunion tours.
Along with Micky Dolenz, he played a series of dates for a farewell tour this year, with their last performance together on Nov. 14 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, Rolling Stone reported.
Dolenz reacted to Nesmith’s death in a heartfelt message on Twitter.
Bandmate Peter Tork died in 2019. Davy Jones died in 2012. Dolenz is the only remaining member of The Monkees and is scheduled to release a solo album called “Dolenz Sings Nesmith,” which is produced by Nesmith’s son Christian, next year. The album was recorded from September 2020 through February 2021.
Through the years THE MONKEES -- Pictured: (l-r) Peter Tork as Peter, Davy Jones as Davy, Micky Dolenz as Micky, Michael Nesmith as Mike -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
Through the years American musician and songwriter of Michael Nesmith of rock band The Monkees with his wife Phyllis Ann Barbour at Heathrow Airport, London,
UK, 14th February 1967. (Photo by George Stroud/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Matt Green/Getty Images)
Through the years Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, 1967 (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) (Chris Walter/WireImage)
Through the years American rock and pop band The Monkees hold a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel in London, to publicise their upcoming UK concerts, 29th June 1967. From left to right, they are Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Through the years Musician Mike Nesmith of American rock and pop band The Monkees holds a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel in London, to publicise the group's upcoming UK concerts, 29th June 1967. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Through the years The Monkees (guitarist Mike Nesmith, singer Davy Jones, bassist Peter Tork and drummer Micky Dolenz (on the ground)), US pop group, pose for a group portrait, circa 1968. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Through the years Actress Winona Ryder and singer Michael Nesmith of The Monkees attend the "Amazing Grace and Chuck" Premiere Party on March 26, 1987 at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years (L-R) Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Peter Tork of The Monkees receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on July 10, 1989 at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Musicians Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones attending 'The Monkees Receive RIAA Platinum Sales Certification Albums' on January 5, 1995 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Musician Michael Nesmith (R) and his son Jason Nesmith arrive at the 2010 BMI Film and Television Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on May 19, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years In this photo provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork of The Monkees perform at Green Valley Ranch on August 10, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by George Bekich II/Las Vegas News Bureau via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
Through the years Musician Michael Nesmith poses backstage during day 3 of 2014 Stagecoach: California's Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 27, 2014 in Indio, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach) (Frazer Harrison)
Through the years (L-R) Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, and Michael Nesmith of The Monkees attend SiriusXM's "Town Hall" With The Monkees at SiriusXM Studios on May 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for SiriusXM) (Rick Diamond)
Through the years Michael Nesmith of The Monkees attends Chiller Theater Expo Winter 2017 at Parsippany Hilton on October 28, 2017 in Parsippany, New Jersey. (Photo by Bobby Bank/Getty Images) (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
Through the years Michael Nesmith performs at An Evening With Michael Nesmith at the GRAMMY Museum on October 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording Academy ) (Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording Acad)
Through the years Musician Michael Nesmith of The Monkees performs onstage during the final show of "The Monkees Farewell Tour" at The Greek Theatre on November 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images) (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)