MUSIC
When I was around 10 years old, my brother and I formed a band to make a few bucks to keep the Pedroski house afloat. We played local record hops and radio shows in Pittsburgh. A few years later around 13 years of age, we met Rod Knepper and we formed our band called Lefty and the Leadsmen. I wrote some songs for the band and we are in The Rock a Billy Hall of Fame for some of those tunes. A song called “Wildwood Fun” is in compilations around the world. I believe they still sell the tune for $500 dollars a 45rpm. I wrote that when I was 13 or 14 years old. My brother David has passed away — he was a great drummer and Physicist. My cousin Freddie Valencic joined the band playing drums for a short span. Rod Knepper was our friend and guitar player doing all the cool licks. Rod is still my best half century friend and I wrote “Houston” back in '71 for what was going on in his life. The tune was called “Send Her Home to Pittsburgh” and then Brooklyn. It was cut about 5 times. It is on Cilla Black’s compilation around the world. I have re-cut “Houston” for my friend John Florez because he signed me to write songs for him back in '74 after he heard the song.
Click HERE to view Lefty's lyrics.
Click HERE to view Lefty's lyrics.
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"BEST LOVE" - WRITERS: LEFTY PEDROSKI & JOHN FLOREZ
I continued writing songs at 15 and 16 years old pitching my songs from London (EMI Parlophone to Ron Richards) to New York (1650 Broadway) to Los Angeles (Bobby Darin, Brian Wilson’s dad Murray Wilson).
I headed out to Los Angeles in May of 1970 to be a songwriter. It was the day after I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with my degree in Economics and my almost minor in English (a few courses short). I loved Indiana, Pat and I made some lifelong friends there but Los Angeles was calling. When I got to L.A. I soon started writing and signed songs with every major music publisher in L.A. They were Capitol-Beachwood, United Artists, Screen Gems music, Four Star Music, ABC Dunhill Music, Almo Music, RCA Dunbar ,and Aaron Schroeder’s January Music. Everyone said I was overdue for a hit.
I headed out to Los Angeles in May of 1970 to be a songwriter. It was the day after I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with my degree in Economics and my almost minor in English (a few courses short). I loved Indiana, Pat and I made some lifelong friends there but Los Angeles was calling. When I got to L.A. I soon started writing and signed songs with every major music publisher in L.A. They were Capitol-Beachwood, United Artists, Screen Gems music, Four Star Music, ABC Dunhill Music, Almo Music, RCA Dunbar ,and Aaron Schroeder’s January Music. Everyone said I was overdue for a hit.