![]() They tried to throw Steve, George, and me out of the band but rehired us two weeks later when they realized the chemistry was gone. There were always disagreements with Michael's father. ![]() We'd go do gigs and get our asses kicked by local bands with better equipment. He refused to tour – not that I can blame him. Mike left the group before "Walk Away Renée" broke. Tension between Brown and the rest of the band soon began to surface. The band's second single, "Pretty Ballerina", also written by Brown, charted in early 1967, and The Left Banke released an album entitled Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina, by which time Rick Brand had replaced Winfield on guitar. The single was released by Smash in late 1966, and became a big hit immediately. Out of about ten labels he sent it to, only one showed interest: Smash Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records. He found no takers, but tried again with "Walk Away Renée". The first recording Lookofsky sent to record labels was a proposed single consisting of "I've Got Something On My Mind" backed with "I Haven't Got The Nerve". Their first live show was at a church, Our Lady Of Solace in the Bronx, to an audience of about 1000 people. After some initial recording sessions, David-Schierhorst was ousted, with Cameron switching to drums and Jeff Winfield on guitar. Lookofsky realized that their music had commercial potential, and getting behind his son's songwriting talent he acted as producer, manager and publisher for the newly formed band. That started things rolling but it was also the kiss of death. Once Michael's father caught us in the studio and heard us, he wanted to get in on the action. ![]() I'd bring my girlfriend Renee along, and Michael fell for her, getting his heart broken, but writing these amazing melodies. We never had a plan to be a group, but Michael had the keys to his father's studio. Cameron and Martin both had songs they wanted to record, but these did not take shape until Lookofsky's son Michael Brown, 16 at the time, worked out arrangements for them on the studio's piano. Finn brought along a new acquaintance, Steve Martin (Caro), a musician he had met by chance in front of the City Squire Hotel after a Rolling Stones concert. This attracted Tom Finn of the band the Magic Plants, who had previously worked at World United. In 1965 George Cameron's band the Morticans was recording there, and they were looking for new members. Brown's father, Harry Lookofsky, was a well-known session violinist, and he owned and operated a recording studio on 48th Street called World United. The band formed among the world of session musicians in midtown Manhattan. Steve Martin Caro), and drummer Warren David-Schierhorst. The Left Banke was formed in 1965 and consisted of keyboard player/songwriter Michael Brown, drummer/singer George Cameron, bass guitarist/singer Tom Finn, singer Steve Martin ( a.k.a. History 1965–69: early years and disbandment
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