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Bobby Hart was born Robert Luke Harshman, on 18th February 1939, in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in the surrounding area. His father, Robert Harshman, worked as a construction supervisor, while his mother, Doris, took care of the home and family. He developed an early interest in music and, after moving to Los Angeles in his early twenties, began pursuing a career as a songwriter and performer.
In Los Angeles he teamed up with fellow songwriter Tommy Boyce, with whom he formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 1960s. Together they crafted a string of hits for some of the biggest pop acts of the decade. Their early breakthrough came when they co-wrote “Come a Little Bit Closer” for Jay and the Americans in 1964, which established them as reliable writers of catchy, radio-friendly pop.
Their most celebrated work emerged through their association with the Monkees. Boyce and Hart composed many of the group’s defining songs, including “Last Train to Clarksville,” which became the Monkees’ first number one single, “(Theme From) The Monkees,” which introduced the television show each week, and “I Wanna Be Free,” which showcased a softer, more reflective side of the band. They also wrote “Words,” “Valleri,” and contributed to several albums that helped shape the Monkees’ sound as one of the central forces in American pop.
Beyond the Monkees, Bobby co-wrote songs for a wide range of artists, including “Hurt So Bad” for Little Anthony and the Imperials, which later became a hit again for both the Lettermen and Linda Ronstadt. With Boyce, he also launched a performing career of their own as Boyce and Hart, releasing singles such as “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight” and “Alice Long (You’re Still My Favorite Girlfriend),” both of which reached the Billboard Top 40. Their style combined lighthearted lyrics with infectious melodies, appealing to the youthful pop audience of the time.
As the 1970s progressed, Bobby continued to write and perform, though with less commercial impact than in his peak years. He also became involved in politics, even running for public office in California, while still occasionally performing with Boyce until Tommy Boyce’s death in 1994. Bobby later wrote an autobiography, reflecting on his career in the music industry and his long association with the pop sound of the 1960s.
Bobby Hart’s talent lay in his gift for writing songs that captured the spirit of their time - melodic, memorable, and perfectly suited for radio. His knack for collaboration and his instinct for the pop market allowed him to make a lasting mark on popular music. There may have been those who sometimes dismissed his work as lightweight, but the reality is that his songs have endured as cornerstones of 1960s pop, and his role in shaping the Monkees’ catalogue alone guaranteed him a secure place in music history. His legacy was that of a craftsman whose work exemplified the pure, youthful energy of an era and continued to resonate with audiences long after its first success.
Bobby died at the age of 86, on the 11th September 2025, in Los Angeles, California, USA, of undisclosed causes.
The above is just one of the many profiles of leading songwriters, singers, musicians and music industry personnel, published by the International Songwriters Association and "Songwriter Magazine". Please click HERE for more.
© Jim Liddane
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