Lesley’s Gore Is Gone — and We’ll Cry If We Want To

May 16, 2015 by David K. Moseder

Lesley Gore

For many boomers, Brooklyn-born, Lesley Gore, who passed away on February 16 at the too-young age of 68, holds a firm place in the soundtrack of our lives. In the 1960s she captured the essence of teen-age angst (It’s My Party, She’s a Fool), vengeful glee (Judy’s Turn to Cry), denial (Maybe I Know) and resignation (That’s the Way Boys Are). Then there’s You Don’t Own Me, which has come to be regarded as an early feminist anthem; the Grammy-nominated Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows;and her last top 20 single, California Nights, a version of which she sang as Catwoman’s would-be protégé on TV’s Batman.

The hits did not keep on coming, but Gore persevered, releasing a few albums in the ‘70s and eventually becoming a popular attraction on the oldies circuit. Along the way she teamed with her brother, Michael Gore, to write some music for the movie Fame. One of those was the Oscar-nominated Out Here on My Own, which lost to Michael’s title theme for the film.

In 2005 Gore came out as a lesbian and released an excellent, critically acclaimed comeback album, Ever Since. The 10 tracks include four originals and an updated version of You Don’t Own Me with a twist in the last verse: “You don’t own me … and I don’t own you.” And if you want to hear a decidedly different side of her, go on YouTube and listen to her kick-ass rendition of AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.

Rest in peace, Lesley Gore — and thank you for inviting us all to your party.

Necrology: Brooklyn Artists We Lost in 2014

The show biz career of Greenpoint’s own Mickey Rooney spanned 88 years. Along the way he got to show off his musical chops in a series of Hollywood films such as Babes in Arms, Strike Up the Band, Babes on Broadway and Girl Crazy; as a singing Kris Kringle in the animated Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and on Broadway in more than 1,200 performances of Sugar Babies.

Brownsville native Mitch Leigh composed the music for the long-running, Tony Award-winning musical Man of La Mancha; the show yielded the iconic song The Impossible Dream.

Four years before garnering the first of his five Oscar nominations, struggling Flatbush-born screenwriter Paul Mazursky co-created the Emmy Award-winning TV series, The Monkees. It was not only a major boost to his career, but would also generate royalties for a spate of Brooklyn songwriters, including Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Harry Nilsson and the teams of Gerry Goffin – Carole King and Barry Mann – Cynthia Weil. Mazursky was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and earned a BA from Brooklyn College. Among other Brooklynites who left us last year were Gerry Goffin and Joan Rivers, to whom we paid tribute in Brooklyn Roads Volume 3, Issues 4 and 5, respectively.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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