»About

The Left Banke were a late 1960's band from New York with a unique sound. Critics labeled them "baroque-pop" due to the classical influences in their music. Besides three songs that hit the Billboard charts, "Walk Away Renee," "Pretty Ballerina," and "Desiree," the group left behind a legacy of music that influenced notable musicans ranging from Leonard Bernstein to Alice Cooper.

»Share

»LB Portrait by Susaye Greene

»LB Machinima Videos by Charlemange

»The 411

News & Updates Trivia Discography Pictures Related Artists

»Session Notes

Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina Left Banke Too Various Sessions

»The History Of The Left Banke

Tom Finn Steve Martin Caro George Cameron Michael Brown

»Dawn Eden Interviews

Walk Away Renee Michael Brown Tom Finn Rick Brand Alan Merrill

»Articles & Interviews

KYA BEAT Oct 1966 KYA BEAT Nov 1966 KBTR/71 1966 Teen Screen 1967 LP Liner Notes 1967 Teen Set 1967 Song Hits 1967 Hit Parader 1967 Teen's Top 1967 Teen Screen 1968 GO 1968 Hit Parader 1969 Mojo 2002 Big Takeover 2003

»Downloadable Media

"Live" Videos Machinima Videos Machinima Videos 2 Leftbankeisms v1 Leftbankeisms v2 Dress Rehearsal Strangers On A Train Steve Martin Caro - Summer Song Jeff Winfield - The Switch The Michael Brown Story Bob Brainen's Playlist

»Site

Thanks Links FAQ Search Contact

»Link Me?

(Save to your own server; don't hotlink.)

»History Of The Left Banke - Steve Martin Caro's Story 1985

I met Michael through Tommy, actually. I was working with George Cameron downtown in the Village. Tommy Finn was standing in front of the City Squire, and we hung around for a little bit because there was a big commotion down the street ‘cuz The Rolling Stones were there. One day I went up to Harry’s studio. Tommy had mentioned coming up to sing. I made an appointment, and I went up. I just hung around the studio and was introduced to Harry. He said, “Hi, how ya doin,’” and nothing happened. But we made an appointment to go back there. George and l had been bumming around Broadway together tryin’ to get a deal, so we made an appointment to go back up and together we met Michael Brown. Looking back, The Left Banke was only a positive experience for a few months. Mostly it was negatives – bad management, bad vibes. The initial talent was there on my part; I gave it all I had, but I came from European ancestry and I wasn’t ready for New York in the sense of everyone lyin’ and cheatin’. The way we did things in Europe wasn’t cut-throat. I don’t want to mention any names, but here were several people in the organization who were not looking out after my best interests. The only thing between us and the door to success – if you study the Left Banke history – was a succession of constant negative output not only on behalf of the members, but just bad vibes all around. I’m not a bad person, I’m just average, I don’t go out of my way to hurt anybody. And I’m not a slick operator either. But there were people in New York who just tore me apart. Nobody ever treated me fairly, nobody gave me a fair shake. I’m not retired. I plan to regain my rightful place in the music industry; a lot of people wanna work with me. I never asked for any publicity, I never bother anybody, I never want anything from anybody, but people call me all the time. I’ll never work with The Left Banke or any people from the past again.