Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller hit for The Drifters in 1959, which introduced the use of strings for saxophone-like riffs, tympani for the Brazilian "baion" rhythm they incorporated, and lavish production values into the established black R&B sound, laying the groundwork for the soul music that would follow. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller Lyricist Jerome Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller; (born March 13, 1933) were American songwriting and record producing partners. They found success as the writers of such crossover hit songs as "Hound Dog" (1952) and "Kansas City" (1952). Later in the 1950s, particularly through their work
Little Mike and the Tornadoes Little Mike and the Tornadoes Little Mike and the Tornadoes are an American blues and rock and roll band from New York City. They are known for their high energy blues sound, modeled after the Chicago bands in the 1950s. Since 1990, they have released nine albums on a variety of record labels. AllMusic noted that the band's frontman, harmonica and keyboard player, Mike Markowitz, "is an extremely hard working, level-headed blues musician". The band's leader, Mike Markowitz was born on November 23. 1955, in Queens, New York City, New York, United States. Raised in New York's then expanding blues