Michael Brown (rock musician)

Michael Brown (born Michael David Lookofsky, April 25, 1949 – March 19, 2015) was an American keyboardist and songwriter, most notable for his work with the Left Banke. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of violinist and arranger Harry Lookofsky.

The Left Banke
Brown was the principal songwriter for the 1960s baroque-pop group the Left Banke, writing their two biggest hits, "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina". He also was a harpsichordist and clavinet player for the band. "Walk Away Renee" was also a top 20 hit for the Four Tops, having reached No. 15 on the soul singles chart, and No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Internal band tensions saw Brown leave the Left Banke in late 1967, prior to the completion of their second record. Brown, along with Bert Sommer, co-wrote the minor mid-1968 hit "And Suddenly", initially for Brown's version of the new Left Banke, with Sommer also slated as lead singer. The song went on to be recorded by The Cherry People, peaking at #45 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The flip side of the Left Banke version of the single was "Ivy, Ivy" written by Tom Feher. He briefly returned to the Left Banke, producing the single "Myrah" in 1969 and Left Banke vocalist Steve Martin Caro's solo single "Two By Two".

Later career
In 1969, Brown became involved in the band Montage (again collaborating with Sommer and Feher in songwriting), as well as producing the band's self-titled album.

In 1971 Brown and vocalist Ian Lloyd formed Stories. They were introduced by their fathers, Peter Buonconsiglio and Harry Lookofsky, who had worked together as session violinists. A self-titled album and single – "I'm Coming Home" (No. 42, 1972) – followed.

The band recorded a second album About Us in (1973). Brown left the band prior to the recording of Hot Chocolate's "Brother Louie", which became a No. 1 hit for Stories in the US and Canada.

Subsequently, he became involved with The Beckies. Brown briefly reunited with the Left Banke at a New York performance in June 2013.

Personal life and death
Michael David Lookofsky was born in New York City in 1949 to Harry Lookofsky (1913–1998), a jazz violinist from St. Louis, Missouri, who was a member of the NBC Symphony Orchestra from c. 1938 to 1954.

On March 19, 2015, Brown died at age 65 of heart failure in Englewood, New Jersey. He is survived by his wife Yvonne and sons Skylar and Adrian. He was the first of the original four members of the Left Banke to pass away: George Cameron died in 2018, and Steve Martin Caro and Tom Finn both died in 2020.

Selected discography

 * The Left Banke: "Walk Away Renée" (1966)
 * The Left Banke: "Pretty Ballerina" (1966)
 * Stories: "Brother Louie" (1973)

(See full discographies at The Left Banke and Stories)