RIP Michael Brown (Lookofsky) of The Left Banke

[sgcim]

Michael Brown, songwriter and keyboard player for the rock band The Left Banke passed away last month at the age of 65.

It turned out that he was the son of the violinist Harry Lookofsky, and Harry actually manged and produced the band when they had the hit records "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina".

Harry owned a recording studio in NYC, and probably helped the band achieve their 'Baroque-Rock' sound that they became known for, but Michael wrote all the music, and played the harpsichord and piano on all their early records.

Harry and Michael had some type of disagreement with the rest of the band, which led to Michael leaving the band and forming other bands that also did some interesting rock music.

[clifford_thornton]

He was also in Stories and Montage. RIP.

[mjzee]

He was also in Stories and Montage. RIP.

Thanks for reminding me.

https://youtu.be/aCeFWueOVsg

(I'm never sure why sometimes a video will embed and sometimes it won't. This is Stories doing Please, Please.)

Edited April 8, 2015 by mjzee

[sgcim]

This was my fave Left Banke song when I was a kiddie- note the arr. and the lydian melody

[romualdo]

Michael Brown, songwriter and keyboard player for the rock band The Left Banke passed away last month at the age of 65.

It turned out that he was the son of the violinist Harry Lookofsky, and Harry actually manged and produced the band when they had the hit records "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina".

Harry owned a recording studio in NYC, and probably helped the band achieve their 'Baroque-Rock' sound that they became known for, but Michael wrote all the music, and played the harpsichord and piano on all their early records.

Harry and Michael had some type of disagreement with the rest of the band, which led to Michael leaving the band and forming other bands that also did some interesting rock music.

Wow!! never knew that - always had a soft spot for The Left Banke - liked their "baroque" rock sound - "Walk Away Rene" one of my favourite tracks from the 60's

Why the difference in surnames?

[sgcim]

Michael Brown, songwriter and keyboard player for the rock band The Left Banke passed away last month at the age of 65.

It turned out that he was the son of the violinist Harry Lookofsky, and Harry actually manged and produced the band when they had the hit records "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina".

Harry owned a recording studio in NYC, and probably helped the band achieve their 'Baroque-Rock' sound that they became known for, but Michael wrote all the music, and played the harpsichord and piano on all their early records.

Harry and Michael had some type of disagreement with the rest of the band, which led to Michael leaving the band and forming other bands that also did some interesting rock music.

Wow!! never knew that - always had a soft spot for The Left Banke - liked their "baroque" rock sound - "Walk Away Rene" one of my favourite tracks from the 60's

Why the difference in surnames?

He didn't think Lookofsky sounded American enough.