Chris Larkin, 55, musician

Chris Larkin, 55, of Fishtown, a popular keyboardist, songwriter, composer and steady figure on the Philadelphia music scene for more than 35 years, died of pneumonia and liver failure last Wednesday at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Raised in Narberth, Mr. Larkin went to Lower Merion High School until transferring to the former Penn Center Academy in Center City and later earning a graduate equivalency diploma. He moved to South Street in 1970 and started making music with bands, including the Dovells of "Bristol Stomp" fame.

He hooked up with longtime local musician Kenn Kweder and the Secret Kidds in 1976, when the group was eyed by big record labels.

"When Chris joined the Secret Kidds, the band improved tenfold," said Kweder. "I get dizzy remembering his impeccable ear and arrangements. He and I cowrote the words and melodies for 'Broken Hearts' and 'Doctor Sez,' which are still requested today. Chris was the king. He added vitamins to the band."

With a rogue's charm, Mr. Larkin stayed in the trenches on South Street. He worked any job he could - at South Street restaurants and at an alternative news shop - to survive and preserve his musical ideals, said his sister, Ruth.

Mr. Larkin had another taste of stardom in the mid-1980s with the Vels, a popular new-wave band that was whispered about in the same breath as the Hooters and other Philly stars. He coauthored and played keyboards for "Look My Way," which made Billboard's charts and was on one of five albums the group recorded for the Mercury label before disbanding in 1987.

Mr. Larkin wrote more than 100 songs for musicals with restaurant owner Bill Curry (Copabanana, Copa Too, and the original Cafe Nola) that were performed in local theaters and other venues through the 1990s, Kweder said.

"In later years, Chris found more comfort behind the scenes. He got tired of performing in loud bars and went underground and behind the scenes in the late 1990s," Kweder said. "His instincts for producing and engineering were brilliant."

"My brother was an avant-garde musician, but he was always close in his family of six brothers and sisters. He spent summers in Wildwood, where our Swedish great-grandparents had settled," said his sister. "Chris sold newspapers on the Boardwalk and ran the 'Hell Hole' amusement park ride when he was young."

"Chris was a gorgeous man. He got all the women," Kweder said. "A ringer for a young Jim Morrison, Chris' eyes, the symmetry of his face, and the way he put thrift-shop outfits together were unforgettable. . . . I was jealous of his style."

In addition to his sister, Mr. Larkin is survived by his mother, Betty Larkin; another sister; four brothers; eight nieces and nephews; and his partner of six years, Betty Lenherr.

A musical memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Gloria Dei Old Swedes Church, Columbus Boulevard and Christian Street. Donations may be made to Project HOME, a charity for the homeless, 1515 Fairmount Ave. Burial is private.

To see a video of the Vels performing "Look My Way," go to http://go.philly.com/thevelsEndText