DECLARATION OF COREY BANKS
I
COREY BANKS declare:
1.
I am a
citizen of the United States who currently resides in Los Angeles,
California. I am
over
the age of 18 years. I have personal knowledge of the facts
contained in this declaration and if called upon to testify I could and would
testify competently as to the truth of the facts stated herein.
2.
I am a
friend and business associate of Kelley Ann Lynch. I understand how she
operates
in a business environment, what she is like socially, and view her as
family. Ms. Lynch is someone I care deeply
for. She is the utmost
professional.
3.
At
some point, Kelley and I were talking about a variety of business matters. I
approached
her and asked if she would work as my personal manager. I am a rap artist who formerly had a record
label deal with Columbia Records. I am
currently working on a new album that I plan to release on April 9, 2019, my
birthday. On a separate front, as
personal managers do not handle publishing, I also asked Kelley if she would
assist me in matters related to my own publishing and my parents’ musical
catalogue. Kelley now serves as my
personal manager, publishing administrator, and we are working on other
projects together as well. She initially
suggested one individual in the music industry for us to initiate dialogues
with regarding these projects. As I am
also interested in a P&D deal, Kelley is assisting me with that as well.
4.
Over time it was obvious that Kelley is an
intelligent business woman, has extensive
knowledge
of the entertainment industry, and actually cares about my work and that of my
family’s. Due to our conversations, I
became aware of the fact that she knew Phil Spector, was a long term friend of
his, once worked for him, and was concerned about his imprisonment and
welfare. She shed light on his case that
I was completely unaware of. I
immediately questioned his prosecution and conviction. I explained that my parents, Larry Banks and
Joan “Jaibi” Banks – both entertainers,
musicians, and/or songwriters – also knew Phil Spector. I was unaware of who Leonard Cohen was
although Kelley discussed him with me.
Jaibi You Got Me (Corey's mother)
The high opinion of Jaibi's recordings was endorsed by James McKean of
Stylus Magazine, who wrote:
"Were it not for a slightly clumsy fade-out I would try to make a case for this ["You Got Me"] being, quite simply, the perfect record. Although well under three minutes, it is by no means a pop song—it didn't jump out and grab me, and it might not grab you. But give it your full attention and you’ll come to cherish how the voice soars, becoming both the loved and the love, capturing perfectly the point between strength and vulnerability, pulling the two together ‘til they meet as one. The stately pace, the way the horns swell slowly and with such grace behind the melody, the way the bass starts boiling over when she sings "I try to fight this burning desire", the swirling keyboard licks, fuck, even the drums are bursting with emotion. This is the shit. This is AWESOME. I love this song!"
Bessie Banks - Go Now (Corey's stepmother)
Bessie Banks originally recorded this song, written for her by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett, in 1963. It was soon covered by The Moody Blues as well as five other artists.
Corey Banks performs and records under the name Corey Drumz
5.
After
hearing about some of the issues related to Kelley, Phil Spector’s case, and
Leonard
Cohen,
I began searching for information online.
I was curious about the Spector case due to the fact that he and my
parents came out of the same generation, had tremendous influence on the music
in the 60s, my father’s song “Go Now” (recorded by my stepmother Bessie Banks)
was one of the songs (when covered by the Moody Blues) that led to the British
Invasion, and Phil Spector is an inconceivable and legendary record producer
who has worked with Ike & Tina Turner, the Beatles, John Lennon, and many
great artists. His work had a profound influence
on the African American community and music.
I am still not familiar with Leonard Cohen’s musical work but understand
he performed and wrote “Hallelujah.”
6.
I
located a variety of blogs and websites related to Kelley, Phil Spector, and
Leonard
Cohen. Some of the blogs and websites I came across
were the riverdeepbook.blogspot.com blog, Truth Sentinel (where interviews
appear about both Leonard Cohen and Phil Spector featuring Kelley and others),
and the Kelley Lynch Fact Check Blog that appeared to be written by
professional lawyers interested in defending Leonard Cohen and destroying
Kelley. I continually noticed comments
by or references to an individual by the name of Stephen Gianelli. I therefore decided to write him. It was my initial impression that he knew
Kelley personally and was part of Leonard Cohen’s legal team.
7.
On May
12, 2018, I took it upon myself to send an inquiry about Kelley to Stephen
Gianelli. I was curious to find out what he personally
knew about her and how he obtained his information. I explained to Gianelli that I saw
information he posted on Truth Sentinel You Tube (Cohen/Spector interviews)
about Kelley Lynch, that I had recently met her, and she seemed like a good
person. Kelley and I actually met in
February 2018 and have spent considerable time together. We see one another on a daily basis,
socialize together weekly, have mutual friends, and I feel I can say that I
have a great appreciation of who she is on a personal and professional level. I have also witnessed her in numerous
proceedings before LA Superior Court. Gianelli’s
posts did make me question whether or not Kelley was simply a “good con
artist.” I can unequivocally state that
she is not. Kelley is genuine,
straightforward, direct, and fiercely loyal.
I explained to Gianelli that my parents were out of the Spector era,
knew Phil personally, and that’s how Kelley and I connected. I also informed Gianelli that I found his
email address on the riverdeepbook.blogspot.com site although, as I explained,
I wasn’t clear whose site that was.
8.
On May
12, 2018, I received responses from Stephen Gianelli. I would ultimately receive
countless
emails from him until I demanded that he stop harassing me. On May 12, 2018, I responded to Gianelli,
explained that the information he provided was informative, and then shared his
emails with Kelley. She explained the
situation to me and I believe her completely and wholeheartedly. She has nothing but my utmost respect
particularly after what she has endured.
I attach hereto some of the absolutely libelous emails Stephen Gianelli
sent me in an attempt to discredit Kelley and destroy her. One’s reputation is the basis of a personal
entertainment industry manager’s business and career. It is my understanding that Stephen Gianelli
does not know Kelley at all, has never met her, and has spent years terrorizing
her, members of her family, friends, and witnesses who submit declarations to
courts of law about Kelley or people who support and love her. In summary, Gianelli seemed bitter. He was purposefully trying to destroy
Kelley. He went way beyond anything I
asked and referred me to people (references), such as attorney Leslie Zigel,
who Kelley has never worked with.
Gianelli wanted to blame and attack Kelley rather than answer a
question. He kept sending emails I
didn’t ask for. I couldn’t have picked a
better person to do business with.
Kelley is the individual who encouraged me to resume my career as an
artist. When we initially spoke, I was
simply considering releasing my old masters.
Exhibit A: Emails Corey Banks
received from Stephen Gianelli, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
9.
I’d
like to provide my impressions, as a non-participant, of the Los Angeles
Superior
Court
proceedings in this case. It looked or
seemed entirely biased and prejudicial against Kelley. There was more focus given the prosecutors
being able to voice their case. When
Kelley attempted to do the same, she was shunned. When she asked a simple question, such as “a
public defender?,” she was shut down. I
have experience with court proceedings and this was overwhelmingly
apparent. From my point of view, Kelley
was not disrespectful during the proceedings.
She wasn’t permitted to object throughout the proceedings or do anything
else for that matter.
10.
The
prosecutor’s bias and prejudice towards Kelley was disturbing. He doesn’t appear
to
care about justice at all. The
prosecutor seemed more interested in going on vacation. His objection to her request for a
continuance, due to the need to have a new investigator appointed, was that he
had vacation plans. The prosecutor was
arrogant, cold towards Kelley, and clearly just wants a conviction regardless
of the facts or truth of the case.
Kelley cannot get a word in edgewise while the prosecutor rambles on and
on. He also knows that this is a high
profile case with high profile celebrities involved as well and prosecutors are
known to advance their own careers with high profile cases. After being forced by the Court to meet in
the attorney room with the prosecution, Kelley explained to me that he was
aggressive, unhinged, flipped out, and a bully.
I understand that Kelley’s former prosecutor, in a related case, made
her way into the newspaper by prosecuting Tupac Shakur and then Kelley on
behalf of Leonard Cohen. Both cases
involve domestic violence although Kelley was Leonard Cohen’s personal manager,
publishing administrator and so forth, and they never dated. It seems as though LA Superior Court simply
assigned Kelley a dating relationship with Leonard Cohen. I have heard details of Cohen’s sexual
harassment, sexual assault, indecent exposure, and masturbating in front of
Kelley. It is reprehensible
conduct. It reminds me of Harvey Weinstein
who is being prosecuted in NY and investigated in LA. It seems as though certain government
entities are protecting Leonard Cohen. I
am aware that, in Kelley’s prior prosecution, Cohen testified against Phil
Spector.
11.
I
thought Kelley did an excellent job in court, appeared intelligent, was analytical,
and
professional. I personally couldn’t have done it. I couldn’t handle the basic research she has
done, written the legal documents, let alone handled the proceedings themselves
particularly as they appear to victimize her.
Kelley has continuously advised me that she does not want to speak
directly to the Court and/or prosecutor and I appreciate and understand her
point of view.
12.
I
would also like to state that I saw Kelley leave court at one of the recent
hearings. The
prosecutor
attempted to obstruct her path and she was forced to step aside. I believe he wants her to look bad and
provoke her so he can go on vacation. It
also doesn’t appear that the prosecution actually has a case. They appear to be making the case up and obviously
want to pressure her into copping out.
13.
I was
present in court when Ms. Lynch was appointed back-up counsel without a simple
explanation
of who he was, why he was specifically appointed, or where he worked. Kelley asked “A public defender?” and the
response from the Court was to shun her.
Kelley shared her communications with the back up counsel with me. He was unable to respond to her for
approximately two weeks. When he finally
did, it was obvious he didn’t bother to read her emails and explained that he
had no experience with state court proceedings.
Kelley therefore asked him to withdraw as this case is being heard in
state court. Kelley has continually
expressed her disbelief at the public defenders’ handling of her case, the
false or confused information transmitted to jurors, and her concern about any
affiliation with them in this case and their potential negative influence in
federal tax matters she is dealing with and federal lawsuits she intends to
pursue.
14.
It
seems like Kelley is actually being targeted over Phil Spector. He is no doubt still
privately
fighting his conviction. Kelley is
publicly drawing attention to the case.
I have witnessed people who thought he was guilty (primarily through
press accounts) question his prosecution and conviction. Cohen’s testimony about Phil Spector and a
gun is a more likely reason for the targeting of Kelley. It seems dubious that federal tax matters,
including the need for tax forms and returns, would capture the attention of
prosecutors, law enforcement, and/or judges.
I understand that Leonard Cohen has at least three contradictory
versions of his gun story about Phil Spector before LA Superior Court. It is my understanding that Kelley has
requested discovery from the prosecution about Cohen’s potential role as an
informant in the Spector case and any quid pro quo he may have entered into
with respect to his personal wrongdoings.
15.
I
would like to express my personal opinion that I cannot even imagine Leonard
Cohen
being
someone Kelley was remotely attracted to in a romantic and/or sexual
manner.
16.
Kelley
Lynch does not have any mental incompetence issues. She is an extremely
competent
individual. She does not do drugs and
does not even touch marijuana. I have
frequently, together with our social crowd, had drinks with Kelley. She has a couple of drinks, usually wine or a
marguerita, and leaves. It is all very
casual and enjoyable. When I heard about
these types of allegations and the “mental incompetence proceedings,” I immediately
thought “It has to do with Spector because it goes to her credibility and she
is the main person attempting to vindicate Phil Spector.” This remains my thinking on this matter.
I
declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that
the foregoing is true and correct.
____________________________________
COREY
BANKS
Filed
with Los Angeles Superior Court
As of December 6, 2019 Stephen Gianelli's libelous attacks on Kelley Lynch (all related to Leonard Cohen, Phil Spector,
'