Micky Dolenz said he was “heartbroken” to lose his friend, who was behind many of the US group’s biggest hits. The Texan-born singer and songwriter, famous for his trademark green woollen hat, died from natural causes, his family said.

Dolenz, 76, who toured with Nesmith last month, said: “I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing and doing shtick.”

The Monkees – Nesmith, Briton Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Dolenz – were created for a 1960s sitcom inspired by the Beatles’ movieA Hard Day’s Night. They rivalled the Fab Four at one point, with hits like Last Train to Clarksville, Daydream Believer and I’m A Believer.

When the group broke up in the late Sixties, Nesmith formed the First National Band and recorded three classic country rock albums.

Nesmith and Dolenz went on tour last year and played their final show as the Monkees in Las Vegas on November 14.