The Left Banke

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.

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.

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.

[6]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.

One of the main reasons David-Schierhorst was kicked out of the Left Banke was because she was a closeted transgender woman and also bisexual,[8] and Harry Lookofsky didn't approve: Well, Warren was bi-sexual, & Mike's father found out about that, & that was frowned upon.

However, Lookofsky tried to capitalize on the single's success by assembling a new version of the Left Banke for touring purposes, with Bert Sommer on lead vocals, original drummer Lisa David-Schierhorst, and (future member of Spinal Tap) Michael McKean on guitar.

[10][11] The remaining members of the band hired attorneys to issue a cease and desist order and urged their fan club to boycott the record,[12] which led to confusion among radio stations over which "Left Banke" to support.

Cameron, Finn and Martin continued to record and tour, with Tom Feher replacing Lake on keyboards and writing half of the band's new material.

This album featured backing vocals by a young Steven Tyler (who later became the lead singer of Aerosmith) on "My Friend Today" and "Dark is the Bark".

It was intended to bring together the band's entire recorded output from the years 1966 to 1969, although a 1969 outtake titled "Foggy Waterfall", which had previously appeared on two earlier compilations, was not included.

Between 2001 and 2006, Brown hosted a series of recording sessions at his home studio with Ian Lloyd (vocals), Tom Finn (bass guitar/vocals), Jim McAllister (guitar), and Jon Ihle (drums).

Initially, Tom Finn and George Cameron reformed The Left Banke in March 2011, tapping New York City's Mike Fornatale (already a veteran of numerous other 60s band reunions, including The Monks and Moby Grape) to sing lead vocals in Steve Martin Caro's stead.

In April 2011, Tom Finn revealed in a Facebook posting that he had reformed the group,[20] with two shows planned for July in New York City.

In early 2011, Sundazed released reissues of the two Smash vinyl albums on CD and LP, utilizing the original running order and artwork.

In February 2012, Tom Finn notified the YouTube community that the Left Banke was in the process of creating a new record featuring contributions from co-founder Michael Brown.

Tom Finn sang a newly written song called "City Life" which showed a heavier rock version of the Left Banke with baroque string section intact.

At the beginning of their reunion dates, the group was joined onstage by a two or three-piece string section and even a guest oboe player for one or two shows.

Both Michael Brown and George Cameron were in touch with Steve Martin Caro, who wanted to rejoin the group, but was unable to tour in 2012 due to previous commitments.

On June 6, 2013, Brown joined the reunited Left Banke on stage at Joe's Pub in NYC for his last live performance of "Walk Away Renee".

[23] On March 18, 2015, the day before Mike Brown's death, it was announced that original vocalist Steve Martin Caro officially rejoined the current touring version of The Left Banke.

In January, 2018, it was announced on the official Facebook page operated by Steve Martin Caro and George Cameron that they were planning a tour.

Brown had been writing new material and planned to participate in the 2015 reunion of the Left Banke with Steve Martin Caro and George Cameron.

[24] Justo George Cameron (born October 16, 1947, in New York City) died of cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on June 24, 2018, at age 70.

George Cameron (3rd from left) and Tom Finn (Center, 4th from left) with band during their 2012 reunion tour.