The Left Banke - LeftBanke.nu

»Left Banke In "Right Pocket"!

From KBTR/71 Denver "All-American" November 1966

Skyrocketing to the top of survey charts across the country, "Walk Away Renee" has carried to fame a little-known group called The Left Banke.

Their recent success came as no great surprise to the five bright young men of The Left Banke, Although the group has been together for only a few months, they have felt all along that their idea for a new sound, called "Baroque", to beat music was a good one. "Walk Away Renee" includes the sound of a string quartet and harpsichord.

The sound of The Left Banke has proved popular at their appearances at teen hops throughout the country and over such television shows as Dick Clark's "Where The Action Is".

The group was formed in New York. Except in their musical performance, each member of the group is an individualist, and they guard their right to free thinking. This free thinking pertains to both their on- and off-stage attire. One may wear wide bell bottoms, another boots, still another tapered trousers. It depends on the individual's mood of the moment. However, all wear long hair.

The members of the group are equally individualistic personally. Leader Mike Brown is a natural to the music business, since his father is an accomplished violinist and arranger. Mike admits that he once considered becoming a lawyer, but that's a passe dream at the moment, since his composition "Walk Away Renee" is running, away with national popularity. Although he claims proficiency only on piano, harpsichord, organ and clavichord, he likes any 18th century keyboard instrument, and is becoming more and more confident in writing music.

Recently, Mike explained the group's outlook on their "sound" or style. "We are writing a lot of different kinds of things, and naturally, we'd like to avoid classification or categories as much as possible. Our music - in performance, that is, - ranges from really fast-up-tempo numbers to the more moderate numbers like `Walk Away Renee'."

Tom Finn, bass player for the group, captures the enthusiasm of all Left Banke members when he tries to explain their sound. "Our style of playing is anew sound with different beats and a sort of progressive movement." Tom, who drives a Cadillac, and Mike began writing songs and later formed the group. Tom plays trumpet, drums, piano and harmonica, as well as bass.

The Left Banke's vocalist, Steve Martin is the world traveler of the group and attended school in Madrid, Spain. He has aspirations for becoming an actor.

The lead guitarist of the group is Jeff Winfield, who cites his main ambition in life as "becoming an eccentric old man". George Cameron, drummer, was born in London, though he now calls New York "home". He brings a real British touch to the group.

The Left Banke has made it big in only a short time. As they progress up the ladder of success, we look forward to hearing more from them. Their sound is refreshing and will undoubtedly become more popular.