“Micky Dolenz: The Voice of the Monkees,” May 20

Saturday, May 20, 8 p.m.

Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center, 7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport IA

An unmistakable performer who led a pop-culture phenomenon to a dozen top-20 singles, four chart-topping albums, and two Emmy Awards, Micky Dolenz brings his concert event The Voice of the Monkees to Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center on May 20, the musician's lauded touring event allowing the artist to draw on his diverse background in television, film, and the Broadway stage.

Born in Los Angeles in 1945, Dolenz originally headlined his own rock outfit Micky & the One-Nighters in the early-to-mid-1960s, the band's live stage act including original rock songs, R&B classics, and covers tunes. One of his favorite songs to sing was Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode," which Dolenz sang at his audition for The Monkees, a sitcom about a fictional rock-and-roll group trying to get a foothold in Hollywood. The show was inspired by the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night, and Dolenz's successful audition resulted in him being hired as one of the sitcom's central quartet alongside Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith. Although cast as the Monkees' drummer, Dolenz himself didn't play the drums, and needed lessons to be able to mime credibly. He eventually learned how to play properly, and according to Nesmith, it was Dolenz's that made the Monkees' sound distinctive, inspiring Nesmith and Tork to voluntarily turn over lead-vocal duties to him on their own compositions.

Spurred by the success of their show, which went on to win Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series and Best Directing, the Monkees were one of the most successful bands of the 1960s. With international hits including "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer," "Daydream Believer" (all three of which topped the Billboard charts), "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You," and "Pleasant Valley Sunday," plus four chart-topping albums, they sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the biggest-selling groups of all time.

Although Dolenz continued to participate in reunion tours with the Monkees after the TV series ended and the group officially disbanded, he has also enjoyed remarkable longevity as a solo artist. Among his credits since 1976 are the release of 15 albums (including his tribute to a fellow Monkee in 2021's Dolenz Sings Nesmith); Broadway performances in Grease and the Tony-winning Aida; a popular tenure as a disc jockey for the oldies radio station WCBS-FM in New York; and television appearances on series ranging from Boy Meets World to The Ben Stiller Show to As the World Turns.

Micky Dolenz: The Voice of the Monkees Hits Davenport's Event Center on May 20, admission to the 8 p.m. concert event is $25-50, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)328-8000 and visiting RhythmCityCasino.com.