The Monkees bassist and singer Peter Tork died Thursday at the age of 77, his sister Anne Thorkelson has confirmed.

Tork's sibling did not clarify the suspected cause of his death, but in 2009 the musician was diagnosed with a rare cancer that affected his tongue.

'It is with beyond-heavy and broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our friend, mentor, teacher, and amazing soul, Peter Tork, has passed from this world,' a post on his official Facebook page read.

He celebrated his 77th birthday last Wednesday and is survived by his fourth wife Pam Tork as well as children Ivan Joseph Iannoli, Hallie Luia Tork and Erica Marie Tork.

The social media post from his 'friends, family and colleagues' continued: 'We want to thank each and every one of you for your love, dedication and support of our “boss.” Having you in our world has meant so very much to all of us.

'Please know that Peter was extremely appreciative of you, his Torkees, and one of his deepest joys was to be out in front of you, playing his music, and seeing you enjoy what he had to share. We send blessings and thoughts of comfort to you all, with much gratitude.'

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Monkees bassist and singer Peter Tork died Thursday at the age of 77, his sister Anne Thorkelson confirmed. He's pictured September 2015

Tork helped spark Monkeesmania with an offshoot of merchandise, top-selling music and tour tickets from the TV show hit he auditioned for

Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork (right) on the set of the television show the Monkees circa 1967 in Los Angeles, California

Bandmate Micky Dolenz posted on Twitter: 'There are no words right now...heart broken over the loss of my Monkee brother, Peter Tork.'

He and Mike Nesmith's The Mike & Micky Show is currently touring the US until March 16. Australia and New Zealand dates are scheduled for June.

Nesmith posted on Facebook: 'Just got the news that Peter died. I am heartbroken. -Nez.'

He later added: 'Pardon me if I am being dogmatic -- but I think it is harder to put together a band than a TV show -- not to take anything away from TV shows. These days I watch MSNBC -- mostly aghast at what I see -- and what I am missing is "madcap".

'Peter Tork died this AM. I am told he slipped away peacefully. Yet, as I write this my tears are awash, and my heart is broken. Even though I am clinging to the idea that we all continue, the pain that attends these passings has no cure. It's going to be a rough day.'

Sugar Sugar and Be My Baby songwriter Andy Kim posted online: 'Although Micky & Davy were the face of the Monkees we all knew that Peter Tork was one hell of a musician. Talented & Brave. Onto the Light.'

Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson and magician Penn Jillette also posted Twitter tributes.

'It is with beyond-heavy and broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our friend, mentor, teacher, and amazing soul, Peter Tork, has passed from this world,' a post on his official Facebook page read Thursday

Bandmate Micky Dolenz posted on Twitter Thursday: 'There are no words right now...heart broken over the loss of my Monkee brother, Peter Tork'

'Heartbroken' Monkee Mike Nesmith said on Facebook: 'I am told he slipped away peacefully'

Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson posted a Twitter tribute on Thursday afternoon

Magician Penn Jillette also remembered Tork who he 'spent a great afternoon over coffee with'

Sugar Sugar and Be My Baby songwriter Andy Kim posted: 'Although Micky & Davy were the face of the Monkees we all knew that Peter Tork was one hell of a musician. Talented & Brave'

Tork's spouse Pam was there to support Tork six years ago when he battled adenoid cystic carcinoma – a rare cancer that occurs in the head and neck.

His regular check-ups showed he was clear in 2012 and they married in 2013.

'When I heard I had this cancer, I had a bloody good cry, and then it was a case of, "Right what do I do now?"' he previously told Daily Mail. 'They performed the surgery and I couldn't talk for about a day or two, but Pam came with me to hold my hand.'

David 'Davy' Jones, the group's lone Brit, died of a heart attack in 2012 at 66 as they prepared for a reunion tour.

The same year Tork admitted he was an alcoholic.

He told Daily Mail: 'I'm an alcoholic, and that means once I pick up the first drink, something gets triggered and I have no resistance, so the answer is to not drink at all. I'm 34 years clean and dry now. I was awful when I was drinking, snarling at people.'

In 2009 the musician was diagnosed with a rare cancer that affected his tongue. In 2012 he told Daily Mail he was 'an alcoholic' who was '34 years clean'. He's pictured in 2005, left, and 2013, right

Musicians Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork of the Monkees perform at the Pantages Theatre on September 16, 2016 in Hollywood, California

Tork was the oldest member of the group in 1966 when their NBC show The Monkees first aired, the 24-year-old helped spark Monkeesmania with an offshoot of merchandise, top-selling music and tour tickets from the TV hit.

Although it only ran for two seasons, the Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider-produced program won an Emmy for outstanding comedy.

As well as playing bass for the four-piece, Tork sang lead on some of the band's tracks including Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again.

He penned the tune for the four-piece's 1968 movie, Head, which features cameos from the likes of Dennis Hopper, Frank Zappa and Jack Nicholson who wrote the film allegedly while tripping on LSD.

The Daydream Believer hitmakers surged in popularity past the likes of the Beatles and Rolling Stones in 1967 with their album selling 35 million copies, a round double that of their rivals combined.

Titled Monkees, the LP featuring hits such as I'm a Believer and Last Train to Clarksville, resulted in several no.1 singles for the group.

He penned the tune for the four-piece's 1968 movie, Head, which features cameos from the likes of Dennis Hopper, Frank Zappa and Jack Nicholson. He's pictured circa 1970

The Monkees TV show was concocted to woo the younger generation and featured the totally manufactured singing group of attractive young men, Jones, Tork, Nesmith and Dolenz

Monkees: From left to right, Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz in 1967

While trained musician Tork also played keyboards in the group, the Washington DC man was said to be 'mortified' when he joined and realized they would not actually play their instruments.

The manufactured band had tunes written by the likes of Carole King, Neil Diamond and Jeff Barry when they first emerged on the music scene and had used session musicians for their debut release before Tork had even signed up.

The men had answered an advert for 'four insane boys aged 17 to 21' to star in a new TV series.

Trained musicians Tork and Dolenz were cast as the members of a rock band who found themselves in one crazy adventure after another as they struggled to make it big.

The show became an instant success with fans including singer-songwriter Tom Petty and John Lennon, who nicknamed the Monkees 'the Marx Brothers of rock'.

They would go on to have Jimi Hendrix as a tour support act. But it wasn't enough for Tork who longed to be taken seriously as a musician.

By 1969 Tork had left the Monkees and his venture into a new group called Release proved unsuccessful in 1970. Then the Monkees split. Tork is pictured in 1967

Tork was oldest member of the group in 1966 when their NBC show The Monkees first aired

After the release of their second album More of the Monkees in 1967, the men fought for more songwriting and performance control and their third release Headquarters was a reflection of their chops.

By 1969 Tork had left the Monkees and his venture into a new group called Release proved unsuccessful in 1970. The Monkees split.

Tork found himself in trouble when he was arrested for possession of hashish and spent three months in prison in 1972.

Reunion tours in 1997 and 2001 reportedly dissolved into bickering, but there was no real animosity. 'There were moments of tension,' admitted Peter. 'But the Monkees never promised to stay together. People forget we started out as the cast of a TV show.'

In 2012 Tork admitted they smoked substances strong than cigarettes during their height of fame.

Monkees (left to right) Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork on the TV show Loose Women in the UK May 18, 2011

'Well, we were young adults in the 60s so there may have been a quick toke before we read our lines, but we couldn't do our job properly if we were wasted on drugs, so we did work really hard,' he confessed.

When Tork, Jones and Dolenz toured the US in 2001, Tork quit early, unable, he said, to put up with 'the drinking and difficult behavior offstage'.

'The truth,' Peter said in 2012, 'is that I'm still confused about my own behavior then and I'm not sure that I had all my own faculties at the time, sober or not. The drinking itself was not an issue and if it were, I would not have rejoined them.'

And he'd always found the fame hard to handle. 'I gave a lot of my money away when I was younger – just left it in bowls around the house and people would help themselves to handfuls of it,' he said.

'I wasn't thinking too clearly at the time and it might have been my low self-esteem, thinking that I didn't deserve to keep the money, but it wasn't really that bright, was it?' he laughs. 'I mean, there's nothing wrong with giving money away to people, but give it where you can do some good.'