Len Barry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Len Barry
Barry in 1990
Background information
Birth name	Leonard Warren Borisoff
Born	(1942-06-12)June 12, 1942 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 5, 2020(2020-11-05) (aged 78) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Blue-eyed soul
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1958–2020
Labels	Cameo-Parkway Brunswick RCA Decca
Associated acts	The Dovells

Len Barry (born Leonard Warren Borisoff, June 12, 1942 – November 5, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was also an author and poet. Len Barry was famous for his hit songs like "1-2-3" and for being the lead singer of the group The Dovells.

Early Life and Music Career

Len Barry was born on June 12, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he was young, he dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. Music became his career after he joined the military. He sang with the US Coast Guard band and people really liked his voice. This made him decide to become a musician.

After leaving the military, Barry returned to Philadelphia. He then formed a music group called The Dovells. Barry was the main singer for the group. They had many popular songs. Some of their best-selling records included "Bristol Stomp" and "You Can't Sit Down". "Bristol Stomp" sold over one million copies. This earned the group a special "gold disc" award.

As part of The Dovells, Len Barry toured with famous artists like James Brown. He also appeared in movies such as Don't Knock the Twist. The group also toured the UK with the Motown Revue. Barry was a guest on popular TV shows like American Bandstand and Shindig. After leaving The Dovells, he recorded his first solo song, "Lip Sync".

Solo Success and Hit Songs

Len Barry became a solo artist in the mid-1960s. He recorded hit songs in 1965 and 1966. His most famous song was "1-2-3". This song was a huge success. It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. "1-2-3" sold over four million copies. This earned him another gold disc award. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for his singing.

Another popular song was "Like a Baby". This song also made it into the Top Ten in the UK. Both "1-2-3" and "Like a Baby" were written by Barry, John Madara, and David White. He also wrote "I Struck It Rich" with Leon Huff. Leon Huff was a famous producer from Philadelphia International Records.

Len Barry performed in many famous theaters. These included the Apollo Theatre in New York and the London Palladium in England. He also toured with Sam Cooke. He appeared on the popular British TV show Top of the Pops.

Later Career and Legacy

Len Barry also worked as a songwriter and producer. He wrote and produced an instrumental song called "Keem-O-Sabe". This song became a hit in 1969 for the group The Electric Indian. He also helped write hit songs for other artists. These included "Zoom" for Fat Larry's Band. He also wrote "Love Town" for Booker Newberry III.

In 2008, Len Barry became an author. He published a novel called Black-Like-Me. The book was about two white siblings. They grew up in a neighborhood that was mostly African-American. In 2011, Barry was featured in the PBS TV series My Music: Rock, Pop & Doo Wop.

Len Barry passed away on November 5, 2020. He died in Philadelphia from a type of bone marrow cancer.

Discography

Albums

• 1-2-3 (1965) - Decca Records
• My Kind of Soul (1967) - RCA Records
• Ups and Downs (1972) - Buddah Records
• More from the 123 Man (1982) - Bulldog

Singles

As lead singer with The Dovells

Solo singles discography

See also

In Spanish: Len Barry para niños

• List of artists under the Decca Records label
• List of people from Philadelphia
• List of performers on Top of the Pops