Levi Smith's Clefs, originally The Clefs, was an R&B and pop rock group formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1963. In 1965, Barrie "The Bear" McAskill joined as co-lead vocalist. After Winston "Tweed" Harris left in 1967, the band renamed itself Levi Smith's Clefs under McAskill’s leadership. They moved to Melbourne and then Sydney, taking up an 18-month residency at the Whisky A-Go-Go club. Their sole studio album, Empty Monkey, was released in March 1970 on Jimmie Stewart's Sweet Peach label. The album featured notable tracks such as "Lisa" and a cover of Junior Walker's "Shotgun". Despite its innovative blend of soul, R&B, pop, and progressive rock, the album did not achieve significant commercial success. Levi Smith's Clefs disbanded in 1972 after numerous lineup changes. The group reunited briefly for live performances in 2002, 2003, and 2008, when they released an expanded version of Empty Monkey.
