Joe Middleton

"RAPPIN'" by Joe Middleton......Wyoming Valley Observer notes from September 1969.

Charles Fach, Mercury Record Productions, Inc., East Coast Vice President, was announcing the formation of a new independent division for the Chicago based label.  It would be known as Intrepid Records.  One of the first acts signed was Wilkes-Barre's Leer Brothers.  Fach appointed Bob Feldman to produce them.  Fach also personally chose "Love Fever" as the Leer Brothers initial release.  Jay Leer and Lars Van Leer co-wrote the song.  "Love Fever" received airplay on a number of major market stations and at 75 trade paper reporting secondary outlets.

"RAPPIN'"......Joe Middleton from the Wyoming Valley Observer "Local Record Raps" weekly column.

Summer 1970 archives show that two Wilkes-Barre based bands are in competition for airplay. The Leer Bros. Band, formed when, Rhythm Aces founder, Jay Leer and his brother Lars, amicably left Mel Wynn, and the "new" Mel Wynn Trend simultaneously released singles. The irony of it all was that the 45s were recorded by Mercury Record Productions, Inc. The Leer Bros. Band on the subsidiary label Intrepid and Mel Wynn Trend on the corporation imprint. "Mystery Of Love" was written by Jay and Lars. Produced by Bob Feldman. The Mel Wynn Trend was promoting a double sided outing, both composed by Wynn; "That's When The World Really Began"/"Hit Record." Don Oriolo and his partner Bob DiLorenzo produced Wynn. At the time of the writing, The Leer Bros. Band had over 75 secondary markets on the record. The first major station to add "Mystery Of Love" was WKBW Buffalo just reporting it to the tradepapers that week in August.

"RAPPIN'"......FOURTH of JULY 1971 FLASHBACK

Rossi Mancuso, promoter of Newton Lake, was advertising a big four-night run on our pages July 1st. in the Wyoming Valley Observer. The Leer Brothers Band from Wilkes-Barre was the opening act for the holiday weekend. In the last week of June 1971, The Leer Brothers Band had their single "Daydreamer," on Mercury Records, move into the Top 20 of just about every secondary radio market. In the then latest edition of the "Friday Morning Quarterback, a music industry tip sheet, publisher Kal Rudman bestowed the title "Kings of the Secondaries" on The Leer Brothers Band. New York City personality Chuck Leonard featured "Daydreamer" as a pick on his "Sneak Preview" national show aired on the ABC Radio Network from the WABC flagship and heard in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area on WILK. The Leer Brothers Band performed from 1969 thru 1983. Original members Jay Leer, Lars Van Leer, Bob O'Connell, and Tom Wynder cut "Daydreamer."

"RAPPIN'" Joe Middleton

My friend, Jim (Jimmy) Connors, three term former Mayor of Scranton, PA, music enthusiast, and Jazz writer for TEMPO, today posted, from YOUTUBE.COM, "Maggie May." Another friend, Jerry Sechleer aka Jay Leer, of Wilkes-Barre, is one of the main reasons behind the success of the record. While a student at Meyers High School, W-B, Leer started a band, The Rhythm Aces. Mel Wynn joined Leer as front man when his old act The Shalomars broke up. Leer and Wynn performed together until summer of 1969. Then Jay formed The Leer Brothers. Mercury Records offered the new group a contract and Jay a gig as East Coast A&R Director. One of the duties of the A&R department is to chose cuts to release as singles. Always in contact with radio music and program directors, Leer took the tape of the album, "Every Picture Tells A Story" and remastered (cut some of the mandolin) "Maggie May" down to under four minutes. Mercury scrapped the idea of issuing "Reason To Believe" as the A-side of the 45. Leer's work became Stewart's first solo hit and stayed at number one in the US for five weeks. Leer says, "I got a nice bonus for 'Maggie May'." WILK broke the record in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market.

"Rappin'" Joe Middleton

On May 23rd. we posted a Wyoming Valley Observer archive piece about The Leer Brothers Band being on the national charts under another name. Spring 1971 found the Wilkes-Barre based band on the airwaves with a topical release dealing with a then current women's sensation. The record was "Hot Pants" credited to the group Salvage. "Hot Pants" was co-written and produced by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. The duo previously had a number one hit with a haute couture basis. In July 1960 Brian Hyland, a high school sophomore from Queens, NY, hit the top spot with "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini." Vance had a deal with Mercury Records for his product. He heard The Leer Brothers Band and wanted to work with them. Charlie Fach, label veep, gave the go ahead. Jerry, his brother Larry, Bob O'Connell and Tom Wynder cut numerous tracks for Vance. Out of the sessions came "Hot Pants." Larry sang the lead. In April '71 it peaked on Billboard at number 54. The other two trade papers, Cash Box and Record World, ranked "Hot Pants" ten positions higher.

WYOMING VALLEY OBSERVER ARCHIVE

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre group The Leer Brothers Band on the national charts under another name. First some background info. In the 1940s all the "now" gals wore them known as "short shorts." Most of the WWII pin-ups posed in them; Betty Grable being the most popular. Spring 1971 Paris designers, like Dior and Givenchy, gave their endorsements for presentation in upcoming preview shows. John Fairchild of Women's Wear Daily, the bible of the female fashion world, takes the credit, or discredit, for naming the then newly revived sensation "Hot Pants." The Leer Brothers Band at the time was recording in New York City where Jay Leer was the East Coast A&R man for Mercury Records. The world renowned music business team of Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss had an idea. Both men are hitmaking arrangers/producers and writers. The duo has done sessions with just about everybody; including Frank Sinatra. In summer of 1960 Brian Hyland had a number one song with their "Itsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." Vance had heard and seen The Leer Brothers Band cut some product in the studio. He was impressed with their professionalism. So he called Charlie Fasch, Mercury veep, and asked him if he would give The Leer Brothers an exemption to record a couple of sides. One tune was a commercial novelty "Hot Pants." The record would not be a Leer Brothers release. Jay Leer, Lars Van Leer, Bob O'Connell and Tom Wynder would play and do the vocals on the session and have the first option to go on the road as the to be named group. They declined that offer. The Leer Brothers were putting final touches on "Daydreamer" and Jay Leer was producing the first Gunhill Road album. SALVAGE was the name chosen by Vance and he put the 45 out on Odax, a subsidiary of Mercury. "Hot Pants" was a personal pick of tip sheet editor/publisher Bill Gavin and reached the Top 40 in all three trade papers.