Born Gary Leeds, his professional career started in 1962 when he was recruited to join
The Standells. He toured with the group from 1962 to 1964. For a period of time in 1964, he toured with
P. J. Proby. In 1964, Gary met
John Walker (real name John Maus) and
Scott Walker (real name Scott Engel). The two persuaded Gary to join their band
The Walker Brothers, and take the stagename “Gary Walker” (something all three members did as they were not related). He has been credited as the catalyst in bringing the unrelated Walker Brothers to the UK in 1965 where, for a couple of years, they enjoyed commercial success. The Walker Brothers are best remembered for their 1966 hit single, a cover of
Frankie Valli’s "
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)". He had two minor UK
hit singles while still a member of the group in 1966. 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. As a solo artist, Leeds released his debut single, "
You Don't Love Me"/"Get It Right", in February 1966. He released two singles in May 1966 and 1968. In 1967 he founded Gary Walker and the Rain, which consisted of
Joey Molland (later of the band
Badfinger, guitar and vocals); Charles "Paul" Crane (lead vocals, guitar); and John Lawson (bass guitar). They released four singles between 1968 and 1969. Their debut album,
Album No.1, was published in 1968. His fourth and last single was a cover of
The Easybeats’ 1968 song "
Hello, How Are You", (B-side: “Fran”) which was released in March 1975 and was produced by
Allan Clarke, former frontman for
The Hollies. Late in 1974, Walker, Engel and Leeds agreed to reform The Walker Brothers. In 1975, they released the album
No Regrets. The title track went to no. 7 on the British charts. The second incarnation of the band split in 1978. In the following years, two reunion performances occurred, in 1982 and 1991. Gary and John Walker, published their own joint autobiography,
The Walker Brothers: No Regrets — Our Story, in 2009. == Death ==