# Actors to musicians **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385 "2002-05-05T12:51:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/21 "2002-05-07T02:27:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph \* > **You could argue that since the guys in the Monkees went from acting like they could play their instruments to actually being able to play their instruments, to some degree, they would qualify.]** That would only apply to Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. Mike Nesmith was already a talented musician, and Peter Tork was pretty much a Renaissance man when it came to playing instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/22 "2002-05-07T03:37:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*Anne Magnussen – half of _Bongwater_. > \*\* Isn’t she a case of musician to actor, not the other way around? ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/23 "2002-05-07T12:17:30Z")
**Shaun Cassidy** (brother of Partridge, David) and best known for starring on the TV series “The Hardy Boys” way back when, had a hit single with a cover version of “Da Doo Ron Ron.” Both leading men from _ **The Dukes of Hazard** _ John Schneider and Tom Wopat released country albums and both did alright with them. While Don Johnson has been mentioned, let’s not forget **Philip Michael Thomas** Crockett’s partner, Tubbs. He released an album (I think it was R&B gospel) called “The Muic on My Mind” back in the 80s. Already mentioned was **Bruce Willis** , but to further the info: Back in the 80s (possibly early 90s) he released an album with a title like “The Return of Bruno” or “Bruno Returns” – I can’t remember. “Bruno” was apparently sort of an alter ego from back in the days when he tended bar and also made a living singing. **Tina Yothers** (the younger daughter on _Family Ties_) is the lead singer of a rock band called “Jaded.” **Corey Feldman** and his band have released an album and perform regulalry. **Malcolm-Jamal Warner** (Theo Huxtable from the _Cosby Show_) performs with a funk-jazz band called Miles Long. Geez, there’s gotta be even more. A lot of actors who started out on stage have extensive musical backgrounds and many of them venture off into new projects when they are no longer onscreen. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/24 "2002-05-07T18:40:20Z")
Danielle Brisebois, who played Archie Bunker’s niece Stephanie, has had an on-and-off, moderately successful and well-reviewed musical career. She has released two albums on her own, had a song on the soundtrack of _As Good As It Gets_, and played keyboards and sang backing vocals for the New Radicals, who had a hit with “You Get What You Give.” And she ain’t [too bad lookin’](http://www.homunculus.com/profane/reliquary/briseboisdanielle/images/brisebois0088.jpg) these days, either. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/25 "2002-05-07T19:11:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JThunder \* > \*\* > That would only apply to Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. Mike Nesmith was already a talented musician, and Peter Tork was pretty much a Renaissance man when it came to playing instruments. \*\* Micky was in a band called, “Micky and the One Nighters” before he was a Monkee. Davey earned a Tony nomination for his part in “Oliver” when he was 15 years old. So, technically, they all had a music background before The Monkees. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/26 "2002-05-07T19:19:25Z")
**Tim Russ** (Tuvok on Voyager) and **Doug Flutie** have bands. They competed against Howard Stern’s band and lost. So did **Tina Yothers**. And didn’t **Justine Bateman** sing in a band at one time? Maybe it was just one song? ---
**Author:** ![ricecake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@ricecake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricecake)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/27 "2002-05-07T19:25:32Z")
Don’t forget about Gary Sinese, he plays a mean bass: [http://www.kimotion.org/photos/kimotion\_perf2001/01\_gary5.gif](http://www.kimotion.org/photos/kimotion_perf2001/01_gary5.gif) ---
**Author:** ![ricecake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@ricecake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricecake)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385/28 "2002-05-07T19:27:43Z")
whoops Gary Sinise I mean, you get the idea… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-to-musicians/107385.md?page=1)