Len Barry wanted to be a baseball player after his graduation from high school. Instead, he went into the service for a stint, and found himself singing a little with the Army bands. The response he received encouraged him to do more of it, and then upon discharge chose to pursue music.
He returned to his home in Philadelphia and became the lead singer of the Dovells. For a three years stretch, they reached the top 40 five times, including top 5 hits, "Bristol Stomp" (it was not his voice on the record, but Barry joined shortly afterward and has been identified with the song) and "You Can't Sit Down". He left in 1965 and after a name change (he had been known by his given name of Len Borisoff) to Len Barry went out on his own as a solo artist. "1-2-3" turned out to be a #2 hit for him, but after a couple more top forty songs in 1966 went into the production side of things, along with crafting his stage show.
He returned to his home in Philadelphia and became the lead singer of the Dovells. For a three years stretch, they reached the top 40 five times, including top 5 hits, "Bristol Stomp" (it was not his voice on the record, but Barry joined shortly afterward and has been identified with the song) and "You Can't Sit Down". He left in 1965 and after a name change (he had been known by his given name of Len Borisoff) to Len Barry went out on his own as a solo artist. "1-2-3" turned out to be a #2 hit for him, but after a couple more top forty songs in 1966 went into the production side of things, along with crafting his stage show.
