Michael Brown (rock musician)

Michael Brown (born Michael David Lookofsky, April 25, 1949 – March 19, 2015) was an American keyboardist and songwriter, most notable for his work with the Left Banke.

Brown (second from left) with the Left Banke in 1966

Born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of violinist and arranger Harry Lookofsky, Brown was the principal songwriter for the 1960s baroque-pop group the Left Banke writing their two biggest hits "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina".[1] He also was a harpsichordist and clavinetist for the band.[2] "Walk Away Renee" was also a top 20 hit for the Four Tops[3] having reached No. 15 on the soul singles chart,[4] and No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Internal band tensions saw Brown leave the Left Banke in late 1967, prior to the completion of their second record. He went on to become involved in the band Montage, writing and producing their self-titled album.[5] Brown also co-wrote the minor mid-1968 hit "And Suddenly" for The Cherry People, peaking at #45 single on the Billboard Hot 100. He briefly returned to the Left Banke, producing the single "Myrah" in 1969 and Left Banke vocalist Steve Martin Caro's solo single "Two By Two".[6]

In 1971 Brown and vocalist Ian Lloyd formed Stories. They were introduced by their fathers, Peter Buonconsiglio[7] and Harry Lookofsky, who had worked together as session violinists. A self-titled album and single – "I'm Coming Home" (No. 42, 1972) – followed.

The band recorded a second album About Us in (1973). Brown left the band prior to the recording of Hot Chocolate's "Brother Louie", which became a No. 1 hit for Stories.[8]

Subsequently, he became involved with The Beckies.[6] Brown briefly reunited with the Left Banke at a New York performance in June 2013.

Brown died of heart failure on March 19, 2015[9][10] in Englewood, New Jersey.[1]

He is survived by his wife Yvonne and sons Skylar and Adrian.[5]

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Brown among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[11]

References
  1. "Michael Brown, Songwriter and Keyboardist for the Left Banke, Dies at 65". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 20, 2015. p. B8.
  2. Randy Lewis (March 20, 2015). "Michael Brown dies at 65; co-wrote pop classic 'Walk Away Renee'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  3. Studwell, William E.; Lonergan, David (1999). The Classic Rock and Roll Reader: Rock Music from Its Beginnings to the Mid-1970s. Routledge. p. 148. ISBN 0-7890-0151-9.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 212.
  5. Lewis, Randy (March 20, 2015). "Michael Brown dies at 65; co-wrote pop classic 'Walk Away Renee'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  6. Bob Stanley (March 20, 2015). "Michael Brown: a fragile talent, but one of the highest order". The Guardian. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  7. Profile of Peter Buonconsiglio, in relation to the auction of his violin; www.skinnerinc.com. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
  8. "Michael Brown, musician - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  9. "Michael Brown, the Left Banke's brilliant baroque-pop leader, dies at 65". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  10. Shaw, Phil (March 24, 2015). "Michael Brown: Keyboard player who wrote 'Walk Away Renee', a tale of unrequited love, for his group Left Banke when he was 16 years old". The Independent. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  11. Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times Magazine.

Further reading
  • Bloom, Ken. American Song. The Complete Musical Theater Companion. 1877-1995’’, Vol. 2, 2nd edition, Schirmer Books, 1996.
  • Clarke, Donald (Ed.). The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Viking, 1989.
  • Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Guinness Publishing, 1992.
  • Larkin, Colin. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 3rd edition, Macmillan, 1998.


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