Draft:Lee Brovitz

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Lee Brovitz is an American world class bassist, Grammy nominated record producer and singer/songwriter. Best known for his achievements with “Blue Angel” (Cyndi Lauper), the legendary “Tommy Roe”, Grammy nominated vocalist “Gema Pearl” and Michael Clarke’s “The Byrds” along with his work as a “hired gun” for dozens of major label artists. He is also known for his work as a solo artist on SouthStar Records.

Early Life

Lee Brovitz was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the oldest of three children born to Edwin and Elsie Brovitz. With his parents blessing, his first foray into performing was in 5 th grade as a guitarist for the Jet L’s in Smithtown, NY. Later that year, his family moved upstate to Rochester, NY. Most of his formative years were spent in Rochester where he graduated Penfield High School in only three years with a Regents diploma. Lee recorded his first record “The Strongest Thing” at the age of 14. The story goes, that he wanted to join a band, “Pleasure Machine” but they already had two guitarists. Lee was offered to join if he would buy and play bass in the combo. After begging his parents to loan him the money, he bought his first bass at the famous House of Guitars and it became his kismet.

Upon graduation, Brovitz moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music, shortly thereafter forming “Boston Crème” with David Curtin (Atlantis) and Paul Roy (Flying Tigers). They toured the United States for three years, recording tracks for Columbia and Atco Records but a national release never came to fruition. The band’s demise in 1976 took both Paul and Lee to Chicago to join the “Shadows of Knight” (of “Gloria” fame) with original singer, Jimy Sohns. Lee and Paul Roy wrote and produced new material for the group. They gained new notoriety and became the opening act for “Cheap Trick.” When Sohns turned down offers from Capitol Records and Epic Records, Lee decided to leave the band and move back to New York.

Career

Retrorocker Lee Brovitz made his mark in the early 80’s in theNYC “new wave” scene with “Cyndi Lauper and Blue Angel,” signing with Polydor Records. After the release of their first album and three years of touring, legal issues plagued “Blue Angel”. The band’s dissolution kept them from MTV stardom. However, Lee’s musical prowess and bass mastery had him ghosting on hit “hair band” records along with playing and producing tracks with “Scandal’s” Benjy King. During that time, Lee composed and produced national jingles for Eastman Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Patriot Mortgage and an A&E documentary “Morgans for the Sport of It”. Lee then spent time in Hollywood pursuing songwriting and publishing opportunities.

In 1987, Lee and his wife Melody took residence in Marco Island, Florida and a new chapter was about to unfold. Soon “The Byrds featuring Michael Clarke”, launched Lee’s foray into the heritage rock arena. He reinvented “The Shadows of Knight”, owned the trademark, wrote and produced “A Knight To Remember”, “Rock’n’Roll Survivors” and “Gloria (Revisited)”. During the next two decades he became bassist and musical director for package shows promoted by Richard and Deborah Nader, Mara Entertainment and Florida Management Concepts. Lee also toured and recorded with the legendary “Tommy Roe”, “Jimi Jamison” (Survivor), “Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone”, and “Jay & the Techniques”. While on tour with Tommy Roe, “Wrecking Crew” bassist Joe Osborne endorsed Lee for his bass stylings. In 2010 and 2011, Lee Brovitz was invited to be a featured performer at the NAMM show in Anaheim. In 2012, Lee discovered powerhouse vocalist “Gema Pearl”. As manager, bassist, songwriter and record producer, he released 5 albums and 7 singles on SouthStar Records. “Gema Pearl” earned four first-round Grammy nominations. She retired for health reasons in 2021. Arising from the crisis of the Covid era, Lee and long-time studio engineer John McLane began working on Lee’s first solo album, “Bassed On A True Story”. The critical acclaim facilitated his 2023 release “Eleven Eleven” and the single “Suicide Blonde”, along with concert touring with his own band.

Currently, Lee Brovitz dropped his third solo album, “Tickled Pink” and singles, “Merry Christmas Baby” and a lauded version of Tommy Roes megahit, “Dizzy”, in May 2024 with a tour planned to support the release.

He is also co-writing new material with Henry Gross (of “Shannon” fame) and in development to curating a musical theatre show with dazzling vocalist, Debra Hook.

Discography

Lee Brovitz - solo albums

• “Bassed On A True Story” (2021, SouthStar)

• “Eleven Eleven” (2023, SouthStar)

• “Suicide Blonde” (2023, SouthStar single)

• “Tickled Pink” (2024, solo album)

•“Merry Christmas Baby”(December 2023, Southstar)

•“Dizzy” (May 2024, Southstar)

Cyndi Lauper & Blue Angel(Universal)

• “Blue Angel” (Polydor/Universal)

• “Seconds” (Polydor)

• “Rock! She Said” (Universal)

• “Blue Angel” (Universal)

Gema Pearl

• “Mirror Mirror” (2013 SouthStar)

• “From Me To Yule” (2015 SouthStar)

• “Red Blooded American Girl” (2016 SouthStar)

• “True Blue” (2020 SouthStar)

• “Swan Songs” (2023 SouthStar)

• “Forever Ended Today” with Jimi Jamison (SouthStar)

• “Kiss Kompilation” (Spectre Records)

• “I Was Made For Loving You” (single, SouthStar)

• “Belle on Wheels” (single release, SouthStar)

• “Pretty Things” (single release, SouthStar)

• “Christmas Bell Blues” (single release, SouthStar)

• “Forever Ended Today”(single release, SouthStar)

Henry Gross

• “My Own Sweet Time” (Zelda Records)

The Shadows of Knight

• “A Knight To Remember” (Bassiclee)

• “Live in Rockford” (Cicadelic)

• “Nuggets” (Rhino)

• “Rock’n’Roll Survivors” (Collectables)

• “Garage Halloween” (Collectables)

• “Christmas Compilation” Vol 1 • Vol 2 (Collectables)

Travis

• “Livin’ In The USA” (Starshine-WBS)

Karelyn Diamond

• “Killing The Pain” (Arista)

Robert Lloyd

• “Will Jesus Be Walking Alone ? (Golden Eagle)

Endorsements

Epiphone™ basses and guitars

Seymour Duncan™ pickups

Whirlwind USA™ pedals and cables

Aurora Strings™

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Angel_(Blue_Angel_album)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadows_of_Knight

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_recorded_by_Cyndi_Lauper