FLASHBACK: DAYS' Theme Composer Commits Suicide 1994

Tommy Boyce, 55, Singer-Songwriter

New York Times
November 26, 1994

Tommy Boyce, part of the singing and songwriting duo of Boyce and Hart who wrote "Last Train to Clarksville" and other hits for the Monkees, has shot himself to death at his home. He was 55.

Mr. Boyce's wife, Carolyn, found his body on Wednesday. He left a note, but the police would not disclose its contents.

Although best known for their songwriting, Mr. Boyce and his partner, Bobby Hart, also recorded some of their songs and had a Top 10 hit with "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" in 1967.

They first gained fame in the early 60's, writing "Pretty Little Angel Eyes," a hit for Curtis Lee in 1961, and "Come a Little Bit Closer," a hit for Jay and the Americans in 1964.

In 1966, they became musical directors for the NBC television series THE MONKEES, which made its debut that September. Among the hit songs they contributed to the Monkees were "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" and "The Monkees Theme (Hey, Hey, We're the Monkees)."

He is survived by his wife.

EDITOR'S NOTE: One of the earliest collaborations between Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart was in the Spring of 1965 when they met in California to compose the theme song for DAYS OF OUR LIVES, one of the only soap themes to last for decades. Bobby Hart is still alive and well to this day. I remember funny episodes of BEWITCHED and I DREAM OF JEANNIE that the duo appeared in as themselves.