It always surprises me when there's a record released by a big label and there is barely any biographical info about the artist known. It is known that Lenny was in a doo-wop era group called The Vibra-Harps with Donnie Elbert (who cut a few hit sides in the early 70's) and that his real name is Danny Cannon.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and speculate that Lenny may have passed away young, as this WAS after all, the Vietnam war era...Of course I have nothing to back my hypothesis, but being as this record has been so revered by "Beach Music" enthusiasts since the 60's and there has been no sightings of Lenny, it may be logical.
As for the song, it's absolutely gorgeous and behind its upbeat enthusiasm features incredibly deep lyrics that deal with alienation and a female sung brudge that outright KICKS.
To my ears, this record has MASSIVE hit appeal and truly should be one that is ubiquitous on oldies radio.
from 1964...
LENNY O'HENRY - ACROSS THE STREET
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2 comments:
Notice too the Bob Crewe connection (Bob wrote/produced for the Four Seasons and Mitch Ryder among many others). Got to meet him a few weeks ago at a show. Still a cool guy.
Lenny O'Henry's real name was Danny Cannon. After being produced by Bob Crewe and label hopping, all without chart success, he got out of the music business in 1965, and died in his native Buffalo NY in 2014. Incidentally, the Four Seasons sing the male background on Across the Street.
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