Career
In 1971 Michael Brown and Ian Lloyd formed They released two albums ("" and "About Us") with a handful of Billboard Top 100 charting singles. Brown left before the band recorded their third (and final) album, (Traveling Underground) which was released under the artist"s name, "Ian Lloyd and ", and included the Billboard top 40 hit, "Mammy Blue". After he pursued a solo career, with six albums to his cartulary-register
Lloyd has performed with numerous recording artists, assuming the role of a session musician.
His long discography of work includes background work with artists such as Foreigner, Billy Joel, Peter Frampton, and Yes. Lloyd continues to record, perform, and write, his most recent release being "Everyone"s Happy Cause lieutenant"s Christmas Time".
Although Lloyd was classically trained on both piano and violin, he first reached international acclaim as lead singer for the band, formed with Michael Brown of the Left Banke in the early 1970s. A replayed version of the latter with Lloyd on vocals is used as the theme song to the comedy series Louie starring Louis CK. Rolling Stone praised Lloyd"s songwriting, saying he displayed "a lyricist"s most essential gift—the ability to produce a verbal approximation of the music"s ambiance.".
He wrote songs for Elkie Brooks"s 1975 album, Rich Manitoba"s Woman.
After a successful run, disbanded and Lloyd pursued a solo career. His albums were well received. In particular was his 1976 eponymous debut, 1979"s Goose Bumps (which produced the hit "Slip Away" written by Ric Ocasek of The Cars), Third Wave Civilization (1980), Planet X (1997), "In The Land of O-de-Po" (2009), and his Christmas single, "Everybody"s Happy "Cause lieutenant"s Christmas Time".
As a backup singer, Lloyd worked with numerous major recording artists, most notably Foreigner, who used Lloyd"s vocals on hits like "Feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "Juke Box Hero", and "Double Vision." Lloyd can also be heard on Billy Joel’s "I Go to Extremes", as well as tracks by Yes, Peter Frampton, Survivor, and Ian McDonald.
On March 18, 2015, it was announced that Ian Lloyd would be joining The Left Banke, which includes George Cameron, on a 2015 co-headline tour in North America. The Left Banke"s original lead singer Steve Martin Caro never rejoined the touring version of the band as was advertised.
Lloyd performs a mixture of solo material and classic material from his time with
Lloyd continues to reside in New York City. His group, the Ian Lloyd Band, is composed of Ian Lloyd, David Lloyd (Keyboards+backing vocals), Matt Grossman/Dan Natelli (guitars), Antti Janhunen (bass), and Jon Ihle (drums).
In addition to their repertoire of " music and songs from his solo catalogue.
He also sang a re-recording of "Brother Louie" for Louis C.K."s television series "Louie"
He contributed vocals to Social Hero"s first album, The Famous, released in 2009.