Len Barry - the 1-2-3 man died a few weeks ago (Nov. 5th)

Len Barry died on November 5, 2020, at Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia. The cause was myelodysplasia, or cancer of the bone marrow.

Always liked him. He did pretty well for himself, but he deserved a bigger career.

I just heard that song on Friday. Enjoyed it.

How come I immediately remembered all the lyrics from this song even though I haven’t heard it for decades and yet I can’t memorize more than four lines of a poem nowadays.

[quote]How come I immediately remembered all the lyrics from this song even though I haven’t heard it for decades and yet I can’t memorize more than four lines of a poem nowadays.

Cos it's easy - like taking candy from a baby.

Gurl, I'm the same.

That song was about interracial romance, which in many states was forbidden by law at that time.

He's good looking and has nice moves.

Many people thought he was a black guy when they heard the song, but no - Jewish from Philly.

that Motown swing beat gets me everytime no matter who performs

It was the Philly Sound - not Motown

I always thought he WAS gay...maybe I'm mixing him up with Lou Christie.

No, not gay - is Lou gay?

Love that song. So familiar yet fresh. Sounds like a Motown and Frankie Valli hybrid.

Thanks, OP, didn't see this. Here's his other famous song.

and THIS, R13

I think that go-go girl in the upper-right is having some kind of fit.

That go-go-gurl was called Lada, R15 - they also gave her a song to sing.

More info about Lada

"Bristol Stomp" will never die!

[quote]It was the Philly Sound - not Motown

It may have been Philly produced, but it sounds like a lot of Motown songs from that era.

The Philly sound began in the late '60s and it makes me think of Gamble & Huff - and The Spinners, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, The O'Jays, First Choice, Hall & Oates, MFSB.

"1-2-3" ain't that.

this is bullshit:

"1 - 2 - 3" is a 1965 song recorded by American blue-eyed soul singer Len Barry, who co-wrote the song with John Madara and David White. The recording's chorus and accompaniment were arranged by Jimmy Wisner. The single was released in 1965 on the American Decca label.[bold] The writers were sued by Motown Records at the time, claiming that the song is a reworking of Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Ask Any Girl" released by The Supremes as the B-side to their single "Baby Love" the year before. They denied the claim, but after two years of litigation, agreed to give the Motown writers 15% of the song's writing and publishing royalties.[3] Holland-Dozier-Holland are listed as co-authors by BMI.[/bold]

gurl, NO!

Never heard of him or the song - but that video was delightful!

Other than the very brief chord intro, R21's song sounds nothing like OP's song.

He did a very swingin' finger clickin' version of this

He doesn't look anything like I pictured the singer of that song (which I've heard a million times) to look.

As a child I was OBSESSED with being a go-go dancer---not a Faster Pussycat Kill Kill "Go, baby, go!" stripper type of go-go dancer, but being the best dancer in a lit platform 'cage' and wearing the best outfits and boots on a TV dance show, just like this video. I never had a face to go with this song and it was funny seeing this guy looking so square, singing so high, surrounded by go-go dancin' youths who also look oddly wholesome.

[quote] That song was about interracial romance

Proof of this assertion, R6? It always sounded like like a love song for anyone to me.

^strike one “like” up there

Was that song where the Jackson 5 got the idea for ABC?

r29 Why would you think the Jackson 5 had anything to do with writing "ABC?"

Didn't know that he had died. Love his big hit 1-2-3. He was 78.

I thought Frankie Vallie sang that song.

Len's respect and interest in the Native American Indian culture caused him to write and produce and instrumental song in 1969 called Keem-O-Sabe by a studio group called The Electric Indian. It was a fairly big hit, reaching #16 on Billboard's singles chart.

R33 ********