The Left Banke
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Michael Brown, George Cameron, Tom Finn, Steve Martin Caro, Lisa David-Schierhorst |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Baroque pop music |
The Left Banke emerged as a baroque pop group in New York City in 1965. They gained recognition primarily for their American chart successes, "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina". Their signature sound incorporated elaborate "baroque" string orchestrations, which led to descriptions of their music as "Bach-rock," "baroque rock," or "baroque pop". Their vocal arrangements drew inspiration from contemporaneous acts such as the Beatles and the Zombies, reflecting the influence of the British Invasion era.
In 2004, Rolling Stone placed "Walk Away Renée" at number 220 in its compilation of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
1965–69: Formation, initial success, and breakup
Formed in 1965, The Left Banke consisted of keyboardist and songwriter Michael Brown, drummer and vocalist George Cameron, bassist and vocalist Tom Finn, lead singer Steve Martin (later known as Steve Martin Caro), and drummer Lisa (then Warren) David-Schierhorst.
The band originated from Manhattan's session musician community. Brown’s father, Harry Lookofsky—a well-known session violinist and proprietor of World United studio—played a crucial role in facilitating their early recordings. Cameron’s earlier group, the Morticans, was working at this studio, which attracted Finn from the Magic Plants. Finn introduced Steve Martin (Caro), whom he had met following a Rolling Stones concert. While Cameron and Martin had written songs, it was Brown, then only 16 years old, who arranged them on the studio piano.
Finn recalled:
Lookofsky identified the band's commercial promise and took on roles as producer, manager, and publisher. After initial sessions, David-Schierhorst was replaced; Cameron shifted to drums while guitarist Jeff Winfield joined the lineup.
David-Schierhorst’s departure was partly influenced by her being a closeted transgender woman and bisexual—identities that Lookofsky reportedly did not accept:
Their debut live performance attracted approximately 1,000 attendees at Our Lady Of Solace church in the Bronx.
Lookofsky initially attempted to market "I've Got Something On My Mind" / "I Haven't Got The Nerve" to record labels without success. Nevertheless, "Walk Away Renée" secured a deal with Smash Records (a Mercury subsidiary) and was released in late 1966 to immediate acclaim. The subsequent single "Pretty Ballerina" also achieved chart success in early 1967. For their debut album Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina, Rick Brand replaced Winfield on guitar.
Growing tensions developed between Brown and other band members. Finn noted:
By the time their hit reached its peak popularity, the original group was no longer active. Lookofsky assembled a separate touring ensemble featuring vocalist Bert Sommer, original drummer Lisa David-Schierhorst, and guitarist Michael McKean—who would later join Spinal Tap. Brown recorded a single under The Left Banke name with Sommer and session players. The original members issued cease-and-desist notices and encouraged fans to reject this iteration. This confusion caused radio stations and Smash Records to withdraw support; consequently, the single failed to chart. The new formation never performed live. The song "And Suddenly" was later covered by the Cherry People as a minor hit. McKean eventually achieved fame for his acting roles in Laverne & Shirley, This Is Spinal Tap, and Better Call Saul.
In late 1967, the founding lineup reunited for fresh recordings including the single "Desirée". Shortly thereafter, Brown departed permanently; Emmett Lake took over keyboard duties for touring purposes. Cameron, Finn, and Martin continued alongside Tom Feher on keyboards who contributed half of the new material. These sessions culminated in their second album The Left Banke Too (released November 1968), featuring backing vocals by a young Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on tracks such as "My Friend Today". The band toured during 1969 without Martin but ultimately dissolved due to financial difficulties and insufficient commercial success. Later that year, Brown and Martin recorded their final single for Smash Records: "Myrah" / "Pedestal".
1971–present: intermittent reunions
In 1971, Brown, Cameron, Finn, and Martin briefly came together to record two tracks for the film Hot Parts. These songs, titled "Love Songs in the Night" and "Two by Two," were released as a Steve Martin solo single on Buddah Records, despite featuring all four original Left Banke members. The following year, producer Les Fradkin proposed producing the band for a Bell Records project. Although these recordings remained unreleased at the time, one track named "I Could Make It Last Forever" was eventually included on Fradkin's 2006 solo album. This rare piece featured Caro, Finn, Cameron, Brown, and violinist Harry Lookofsky—Brown's father—with Fradkin contributing vocals and 12-string guitar.
In 1978, Martin, Cameron, and Finn reunited under The Left Banke name to record an album that initially went unreleased. A single from these sessions, "Queen of Paradise" backed with "And One Day," achieved modest chart performance. The album was finally issued by Relix Records in 1986 as Strangers on a Train (retitled Voices Calling for the European market), but it did not succeed in reigniting widespread interest in the band.
After departing Left Banke in 1967, Michael Brown co-founded Montage, releasing a self-titled album in 1969 which included a new version of the Left Banke track "Desiree." Subsequently, Brown joined Stories alongside vocalist Ian Lloyd, who later scored a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973 with "Brother Louie." Brown exited Stories prior to this success and later collaborated with the Beckies, producing one album.
In 1992, Mercury Records issued an extensive Left Banke anthology called There's Gonna Be a Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966–1969, compiling their significant works from that era.
Michael Brown and his wife Yvonne Vitale released the album On This Moment in 1994. Between 2001 and 2006, Brown conducted recording sessions at his home studio with Ian Lloyd (vocals), Tom Finn (bass/vocals), Jim McAllister (guitar), and Jon Ihle (drums).
The band's legacy continued to influence artists: Swedish musician Jens Lekman sampled "I've Got Something on My Mind" in 2003; Alice Cooper covered "Pretty Ballerina" on his 2005 release Dirty Diamonds; and former Bangles member Susanna Hoffs teamed with Matthew Sweet to cover "She May Call You Up Tonight" in 2006. Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian acknowledged The Left Banke as a formative inspiration. Additionally, Richard Thompson performed "She May Call You Up Tonight" on his 1998 live album Celtschmerz.
Former guitarist Jeff Winfield passed away at age 60 on June 13, 2009 due to complications from pneumonia.
2011–2013
The touring incarnation of The Left Banke included original member George Cameron. In March 2011, Tom Finn and Cameron revived the band, enlisting Mike Fornatale from New York City—known for involvement in reunions of '60s bands like the Monks and Moby Grape—to assume lead vocals in place of Steve Martin Caro. New members Paul Alves (lead guitar, backing vocals), Charly Cazalet (bass), Mickey Finn (keyboards), Rick Reil (drums, percussion, backing vocals), and Joe McGinty (keyboard/synth; replaced by John Spurney in 2012) completed the lineup. They performed sold-out concerts at Joe's Pub in NYC on March 5 and 6, 2011. Tom Finn confirmed the band's revival via Facebook in April 2011 and announced additional shows slated for July. Finn remained part of the group until 2013 when he departed due to disagreements with Cameron and health concerns.
Early in 2011, Sundazed Music reissued both Smash Records vinyl albums on CD and LP formats, retaining original sequencing and artwork.
By February 2012, Finn revealed intentions to produce new material involving co-founder Michael Brown. On April 29, 2012, Brown appeared onstage with the reunited band at B.B. King's in New York City to perform "Pretty Ballerina," earning a standing ovation. Former guitarist Rick Brand was also present. Finn introduced "City Life," which displayed a heavier rock style enriched with baroque string arrangements. Nevertheless, no new recordings from this period were officially released before Brown's passing in 2015.
During reunion performances, the group incorporated a string section of two or three players and occasionally featured an oboe musician. Both Brown and Cameron stayed connected with Steve Martin Caro throughout; Caro expressed interest in rejoining but was unable to tour in 2012.
On June 6, 2013, Brown made his final live appearance with The Left Banke at Joe's Pub in New York City performing "Walk Away Renee."
Unrealized reunions
On March 18, 2015, just one day prior to Mike Brown's passing, original lead singer Steve Martin Caro formally rejoined the active touring lineup of The Left Banke. Images shared on the band's official Facebook and Twitter accounts depicted Steve signing an agreement. During two concerts in 2015, vocal duties were shared by co-headliner Ian Lloyd from Stories alongside Sam Kogon. This reassembled Cameron-led group performed across several locations including New York City; Bearsville, New York; Sellersville, Pennsylvania; and Natick, Massachusetts.
In early 2018, Steve Martin Caro and George Cameron revealed intentions for a tour through their official Facebook page. Photographs displayed Steve rehearsing alongside Cameron and vocalist/guitarist Sam Kogon, marking Steve’s first vocal performance in over fifteen years as they revisited much of The Left Banke’s repertoire. Unfortunately, Cameron passed away five months later before any shows under this collaboration took place.
Deaths
Michael Brown succumbed to heart disease on March 19, 2015, at the age of 65. At the time, he was actively composing new songs and had planned to participate in the 2015 reunion with Steve Martin Caro and George Cameron. His funeral service occurred on March 25, 2015, in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Justo George Cameron (born October 16, 1947) died from cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on June 24, 2018, aged 70. Thomas Leo Feher passed away due to heart failure on August 5, 2018. Steve Martin Caro died from heart disease on January 14, 2020, at the age of 71. The final surviving original member, Tom Finn, died on June 27, 2020 after enduring several years of poor health.
Band members
Original Left Banke lineup (1965–1969)
- George Cameron – drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals, guitar (1965–1969; 1971; 1978; 2011; deceased 2018)
- Michael Brown – piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, organ, lead vocals (1965–1967; 1969; 1971; 1978; deceased 2015)
- Steve Martin Caro – lead vocals, guitar, drums, tambourine, bass (1965–1969; 1971; 1978; deceased 2020)
- Tom Finn – bass, guitar, backing and lead vocals (1965–1969; 1971; 1978; 2011; deceased 2020)
- Lisa David-Schierhorst – drums (1965)
- Jeff Winfield – guitar (1966; deceased 2009)
- Rick Brand – guitar, banjo (1966–1967)
- Tom Feher – piano, guitar (1968–1969; deceased 2018)
Members of the "New" Left Banke
- Bert Sommer – lead vocals, guitar (1967; deceased 1990)
- Michael McKean – guitar (1967)
- Lisa David-Schierhorst – drums (1967)
Timeline
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Albums
| Release Date | Album Name | Chart Rankings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. 200 | Cash Box | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1967 | Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina | 67 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1968 | The Left Banke Too | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 1986 | Strangers on a Train (also known as Voices Calling) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "—" indicates the release did not achieve chart placement or certification. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compilation Albums
- 1982 – And Suddenly It's...The Left Banke
- 1985 – History of The Left Banke
- 1986 – Walk Away Renée [mini-album]
- 1988 – And Finally It's...The Left Banke – Track listing differs from the 1982 compilation.
- 1992 – There's Gonna Be a Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966–1969
EPs
- 1983 – Walk Away Renee
- 2022 – High Flyer (Omnivore Records)
Singles
| Release Date | Single (A-side, B-side) Both tracks from the same album unless specified |
Label and Catalog Number | Chart Rankings | Associated Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard | Cash Box | RPM | ||||||||||||
| July 1966 | "Walk Away Renée" b/w "I Haven't Got the Nerve" |
Smash 2041 | 5 | 2 | 3 | Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina | ||||||||
| December 1966 | "Pretty Ballerina" b/w "Lazy Day" |
Smash 2074 | 15 | 12 | 4 | |||||||||
| March 1967 | "Ivy Ivy" b/w "And Suddenly" |
Smash 2089 | 119 | 106 | — | Non-album tracks | ||||||||
| May 1967 | "She May Call You Up Tonight" b/w "Barterers and Their Wives" |
Smash 2097 | 120 | 118 | — |
Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina |
- |
June 1967 | "Desiree" b/w "I've Got Something on My Mind" |
style="text-align:center;">Smash 2119 | style="text-align:center;">98 | style="text-align:center;">127 | style="text-align:center;">— | rowspan=5>The Left Banke Too |
| June 1968 | "Dark Is the Bark" b/w "My Friend Today" |
style="text-align:center;">Smash 2165 | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | |||||||||
| November 1968 | "Goodbye Holly" b/w "Sing Little Bird Sing" |
style="text-align:center;">Smash 2198 | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | |||||||||
| February 1969 | "Bryant Hotel" b/w "Give the Man a Hand" |
style="text-align:center;">Smash 2209 | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | |||||||||
| May 1969 | "Nice to See You" b/w "There's Gonna Be a Storm" |
style="text-align:center;">Smash 2226 | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | |||||||||
| November 1969 | "Myrah" b/w "Pedestal" |
style="text-align:center;">Smash 2243 | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | style="text-align:center;">— | rowspan=2>Non-album tracks | ||||||||
| March 1971 | "Love Songs in the Night" † b/w "Two by Two" |
style=text-align:center; > Buddah 219 | style=text-align:center; > — | style=text-align:center; > — | style=text-align:center; > — | |||||||||
| 1978 | "Queen of Paradise" b/w "And One Day" |
style=text-align:center; >Camerica 0005 | >— |>— | Strangers on a Train | ||||||||||
External links
- Comprehensive site about the band, developed by Charlemagne Fezza around 2006, containing interviews with past members conducted by music reporter Dawn Eden.
- Supporters' website offering further interviews
- Detailed blog entries on the group: first installment, and second installment