AN UNEXPECTED FAREWELL: No One Saw It Coming
The lights dimmed inside the packed Los Angeles theater, but this time, there was no playful banter, no wink, no joke to break the tension. Instead, Micky Dolenz — the last living member of The Monkees — walked slowly to center stage. In the hush that followed, even the air seemed to hold its breath.
Before him stood a single saxophone, resting on its stand under a lone golden spotlight. The instrument shimmered quietly — a symbol, a memory, a ghost. It had once belonged to his friend, the late Cleto Escobedo III, whose laughter, talent, and warmth had filled countless rooms with music.
Micky paused, his gaze lingering on the instrument as though waiting for it to play itself. Then, with a deep breath, he began to sing “I’m a Believer.”
But it wasn’t the bright, buoyant pop anthem the world knew. It was something else — slower, fragile, reverent. Each word fell like a whisper, a soft confession offered to the heavens. The melody that once made millions dance now carried something deeper — grief, gratitude, and grace.
Midway through the song, Micky’s voice wavered. He looked up, eyes glistening beneath the soft stage lights. 💬 “Cleto was the sound of joy,” he said quietly. “Tonight, that joy echoes in heaven.”
There was a moment of stillness then — one of those rare moments where time itself seems to pause. The crowd, standing shoulder to shoulder, felt it too. Some bowed their heads. Others closed their eyes. A few wept openly.
For them, this wasn’t just a performance. It was a communion — one artist saying goodbye to another, one soul recognizing the echo of a kindred spirit.
When the final note faded, the audience rose as one. It wasn’t a standing ovation born of applause, but of reverence. No one wanted to break the spell. The room glowed in silence — united by the invisible thread that music weaves between hearts.
Micky set down the microphone and stepped back toward the saxophone. Gently, he touched its bell, almost as if greeting an old friend. Then, with a small, knowing smile, he whispered something no microphone caught — perhaps a thank-you, perhaps a promise — before walking offstage into the dark.
The curtain never fell. The music lingered.
And in that stillness — somewhere between the memory of laughter and the ache of loss — it felt as though The Monkees and Cleto Escobedo III were both there, harmonizing once more, their joy echoing into eternity.