I'll admit I didn't know Michael, but I did know three of the songs he brought into this world. Ron Smith reported the news on his facebook page this morning...
Michael Brown (nee Michael Lookofsky), keyboardist with the Left Banke and Stories, died Thursday of unknown causes. He was 65. Michael’s father, a session violinist, owned a recording studio in New York and produced, published and managed the baroque-oriented Left Banke when they formed in 1965. Michael wrote their two hits-- “Walk Away Renee” (#5-1966) and “Pretty Ballerina” (#15-1967), but when he recorded another-- “Ivy Ivy” (#119-1967) using studio musicians, the resulting friction caused the group to disband (though they later reformed without Michael and without any more hits). He went on to play with Montage before joining Stories, having been introduced to Ian Lloyd by their fathers. He stayed with the group for their first album and first three singles, including “I’m Coming Home” (#42-1972) and “Brother Louie” (#1-1973-- which initially was missing from the album). After forming the unsuccessful group, the Beckies in 1976, he eventually gave up music.
I owned this 45 RPM...
