Even before the Monkees, Nesmith had composed Different Drum, a bluegrass song that has become something of a country standard, recorded by PP Arnold, Carrie Underwood, The Jayhawks, Lemonheads and a hit for Linda Rondstadt in 1967 with her group Stone Poneys. Nesmith played 12-string-guitar and crafted thoughtful, quirky, slightly left of field songs. 

It is worth seeking out his stark and lovely 1972 solo album, misleadingly titled And The Hits Just Keep on Comin’. Nesmith’s musical career was fitful, but he also started a small record label, Countryside, wrote several novels, was a pioneer in the American home video market with his company Pacific Arts Corporation, produced pop videos (including Lionel Richie’s All Night Long), created award winning 1981 comedy show Elephant Parts and was executive producer of the cult 1984 movie Repo Man. 

Nesmith’s mother, Bettie Nesmith-Graham, was a former secretary who made a fortune by inventing typewriter correction fluid (essentially Tippex, although her original version was known as Liquid Paper). When she died in 1980, Nesmith (her only son) inherited half his mother’s estate, of over $50 million (the other half going to charity).