Bobby Hart , a songwriter who co-wrote some of the greatest hits of the Monkees , and a performer in is own right who made the top 10 as a member of the duo Boyce and Hart, died Wednesday at age 86. His wife MaryAnn said that her husband’s death came after a long illness.

Hart was associated throughout his career with co-writer Tommy Boyce, his official partner at Screen Gems/Columbia. Together, they wrote a series of huge hits for the Monkees, including the theme song for the TV series that spawned the group, “(Theme From) The Monkees,” as well as the 1966 No. 1 single “Last Train to Clarksville” and follow-up singles “I Wanna Be Free,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” and “Words.”

The “Monkees” theme was not their only indelible TV song; the duo also wrote the theme for the long-runn

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