The last member of The Walker Brothers, Gary Leeds, has died aged 83 after suffering a stroke.
The American musician – who later changed his name to Gary Walker – was the drummer and vocalist with both The Standells and The Walker Brothers.
However, it’s now been reported he died on March 1 in Essex after suffering a stroke shortly before Christmas.
‘I’m sorry to confirm that he passed away peacefully on Sunday 1 March after suffering a stroke not long before Christmas,’ a family friend told The Sun on behalf of Leeds’ wife.
Born in March, 1942, in Glendale, California, the musician’s career began aged 20 when he was recruited to join The Standells.
He then toured with the group from 1962 to 1964.
It was in 1964 that he then met John Walker – real John Maus – and Scott Walker – real name Scott Engel – who convinced him to join their band The Walker Brothers and take on the stage name Gary Walker.
The band are most notable for having the 1966 hit single The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore), a cover of Frankie Valli’s song.
After a UK tour in April 1967, which also featured Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens, and Engelbert Humperdinck, followed by a tour of Japan in 1968, the group officially disbanded.
Later, in 1974, the band then came back together and released the album No Regrets the following year – with the title track reaching number 7 on the British charts.
The Walker Brothers then split again in 1978, but performed reunion shows in 1982 and 1991.
Aside from his work with The Walker Brothers, Leeds also founded the band Gary Walker and the Rain in 1967. That line-up included Joey Molland, Charles ‘Paul’ Crane and John Lawson – they released their debut album in 1968.
As a solo artist, Leeds had also released his debut single, You Don’t Love Me/Get It Right, in 1966. Two others followed in 1966 and 1968, with his fourth and final being a cover of The Easybeats’ 1968 song Hello, How Are You, in 1975.
Leeds had been the last surviving member of The Walker Brothers.
He’d remained close with John and Scott until they each passed away in 2011 and 2019.
The drummer is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara, son Michael, daughter-in-law Louise and grandson Robert.
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