Baldwin and Leps
posted by baldwin.mick at 4:16 PM
2 comments
Friday, August 26, 2005
Monday, August 15, 2005
About Baldwin and Leps
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- New Songs posted
- Travel Journal
- We discuss Michael Baldwin's 1971 New York moment ...
- Interview with Julie Garisto
- Interview with Julie Garisto
- Interview with Julie Garisto
- Baldwin and Leps
- New York
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Baldwin and Leps (Mike Baldwin--guitar/vocal, and Richard Leps--violin/vocal) were street musicians in New York in the summer of 1970.
Both from Florida, they had gone to New York for a last party before "getting serious" about school. Then the impossible happened.
Michael Minnick heard them playing on 8th Street in Greenwich Village, and together with Bob Heller,
got the duo a substantial recording contract with Vanguard Records. They were playing on the street in the summer of 1970,
on the cover of Record World in February of 1971, and soon appeared in concert with Stevie Wonder in Madison Square Garden, and opened for John Mayall,
Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Tim Hardin, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee and others.
They went back to the streets occasionally, even after a big advance from Vanguard. Eventually, they drifted apart,
Mike heading off to record with Greg Lake of Emerson Lake and Palmer, in London, and Richard heading south to play with a variety of groups,
although the two remained close friends.
Now, they follow the music back to the streets, and will be playing in New York where they will bunk in a student hostel,
with a video re-telling of the 70's street scene. After playing on the streets of New York, they will be making "street music" in London, Amsterdam,
Prague, and Paris. This time their travel and street adventures will be on this site, including playing in clubs and concert situations.
There will be more video, music, interviews and stories added to this site as they move along, starting very early in October from New York.
Stay tuned for a ride through the streets of New York, London, Amsterdam, Prague, Paris, and maybe Ireland.
All site visitors are encouraged to suggest places to visit, places to stay, places to eat…..and any other suggestions that seem appropriate