Steve Martin Caro of The Left Banke RIP

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by ajsmith, Jan 15, 2020.

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  1. CliffL

    CliffL Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sacramento CA USA
    So sad to hear...what a beautiful, unique voice he had.
     
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  2. Brian Kelly

    Brian Kelly 1964-73 rock's best decade

    This is their best song in my opinion.

    I always wondered why Steve Martin didn't do on to more fame once the Left Banke split up. He had a great voice!
     
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  3. MarkTheShark

    MarkTheShark Senior Member

    I remember an interview with him where he said some things like some people "tore me apart" and "I'll never work with the Left Banke or anyone from the past again."
     
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  4. Platterpus

    Platterpus Senior Member

  5. JFS3

    JFS3 Senior Member

    Location:
    Hooterville
     
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  6. ajsmith

    ajsmith Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Glasgow
    The core members were all interviewed for the liner notes of the 1985 comp ‘The History Of The Left Banke’ and as I recall Martins section was completely bitter and downbeat about his time with the group. This may be the same interview you’re referring to. Of course he did work again with the same guys in 2000 ish for those legendary unreleased reunion recordings... surely they have to come out at some point in the future? The one track that used to be on YouTube ‘Airborne’ was excellent, with Martin’s vocal abilities entirely undimmed...
     
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  7. melstapler

    melstapler Reissue Activist

    Incredibly sad news. Steve Martin Caro had such an amazing voice and I believe his talent was criminally overlooked and underutilized. George Cameron and Sam Kogon reunited with Steve in 2018, which seemed to be going well and was halted by George's tragic and unexpected passing only months later. It's a shame that we didn't get a new album with these members of The Left Banke. RIP Steve, we'll never forget you.

    The Left Banke 2018 reunion with singer Steve Martin Caro
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    [​IMG]
     
  8. melstapler

    melstapler Reissue Activist

    Caro, Steve
    CARO, Steve M. 71, of Palm Harbor, died January 14, 2020. No family has come forward at this time.

    Steve Martin Caro
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
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  9. MarkTheShark

    MarkTheShark Senior Member

    That is where I read it, yes.
     
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  10. Bill

    Bill Senior Member

    Location:
    Eastern Shore
    The first week I was a freshman at Boston University in September 1967, my new friends and I saw a flier announcing a mixer at MIT featuring the great Left Banke. As big fans of the first album and eager to experience campus life in any way possible, that warm evening we walked across the BU Bridge to the MIT Union at which the show was taking place. After a lot of setting up, it became clear that the stagehands were having trouble setting up the sound system without having each of the vocalists receive a large jolt of electricity through his microphone, complete with impressive sparks. After a few tries and over an hour of effort, and somewhat dazed musicians, including Steve, the crew gave up, ironic in light of MIT's reputation for technological excellence (its last name)! Money collected and musicians there, the promoters decided to go through with the show, so we proceeded to enjoy a live performance of the instrumental backing of each song. No vocals. Quite a night!
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2020
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  11. ajsmith

    ajsmith Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Glasgow
    Wow, amazing story! Shame you didn’t get to hear Martin sing that night: however on the other hand the Banke had such beautiful melodies that I can imagine the backing was still entirely enjoyable in its own right.
     
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  12. cwitt1980

    cwitt1980 Senior Member

    Location:
    Carbondale, IL USA
    Are these demos available anywhere?
     
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  13. classicrockguy

    classicrockguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Livingston NJ
    He sure did. I always thought he sounded similar to the lead singer of this group, Merry Go Round on their single “Live”

     
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  14. trackstar

    trackstar Forum Resident

  15. melstapler

    melstapler Reissue Activist

    Those demos were exchanged in tape trading groups about 20 years ago. Somewhere, I have a CD-R a fellow tape trader sent me and the recordings were good enough to have been issued as an official release. To this day, I believe these recordings would've generated enough interest to support an ongoing reunion similar to what Blunstone and Argent have been doing with their new version of The Zombies for the past 20 years or so.
     
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