Michael Brown passes away.

Michel BrownMichael Brown, the keyboard player and songwriter whose brief tenure with the Left Banke produced the band’s classic hits “Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina,” has passed away at the age of 65. Brown was an innovative composer and a genius level songwriter. Although Michael didn’t create the “baroque pop” sound, he was one of the few who perfected it.

Brown worked magic wherever he went, in 1968 with the band Montage and joining up with bassist and singer Ian Lloyd to form Stories. Stories got a No. 1 hit with a 1974 cover of Hot Chocolate’s “Brother Louie,”  prominently used as the theme music for Louie C.K.’s TV show. The late ’70s Brown’s next band, the Beckies released an LP, but he is mainly known for those great early singles. Brown briefly reunited with the Left Banke at a New York performance in April 2012. R.I.P. Michael, your music lives on…