Lowell Levinger

Lowell Vincent Levinger III (born September 9, 1944), also known as Banana, is an American singer-songwriter and producer, best known as a member of the folk rock band The Youngbloods. He now plays in Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, a large collective led by Steven Van Zandt. Levinger can play guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, mandola esraj and bass. As of 2025, he is the last surviving original member of the Youngbloods.

Early life Levinger was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California and attended Santa Rosa High School. Levinger was kicked out of high school due to him "not being able to keep my mouth shut", and was then sent to Robert Louis Stevenson High School in Pebble Beach, which he was also kicked out of, claiming it was "like being in prison". The teacher then sent a letter to his parents in Cambridge to send over folk records for Lowell to listen to. The two then made a band with the name "Harmon N. Banana and The Bunch - Old Time Music With Appeal", but after a while the name was just shortened to "Banana and The Bunch", which is how Levinger acquired the nickname "Banana".

While fronting Banana and the Bunch, he was mentored by Bill Kieth and The Charles River Valley Boys. He was also in bands called Proper Bostians and The Trolls. Eventually, Banana and the Bunch got popular and due to the high amount of gigs, Lowell dropped out of university. Corbitt also left in 1969, and Levinger moved to lead guitar.

Later career The Youngbloods disbanded in 1972, and Levinger joined the band Noggins with Bauer and Michael Kane (who joined the Youngbloods in 1971), they released only one album. Levinger also made a new group named after his first band, Banana & The Bunch. Levinger then joined Mimi Fariña, who he first met in Cambridge in 1963, as a supporting musician in 1973, and worked with her on and off for over twenty years, until the 1990s. He also ran his own recording studio. He has also worked with the bands Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks and The Barry Melton Band, and has performed alongside David Nelson, Keith Little, Freebo, and Peter Rowan. were released as Grandpa Banana, a moniker his manager convinced him to drop. led by Steven Van Zandt, for their 2017 European and 2018 American tour.

Personal life Levinger lives in West Marin, California, and has seven children. He collects stringed acoustic instruments.

Discography