Les Brown (bandleader)

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Les Brown, Sr. (March 14, 1912 – January 4, 2001) and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the big band era of the late 1930s and now performs under the direction of his son Les Brown, Jr.

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[edit] Biography

"Les Brown and the Band of Renown" brought Doris Day into prominence with their recording of "Sentimental Journey" in 1945. The release of "Sentimental Journey" coincided with the end of WWII in Europe and was the homecoming theme for many veterans. They had nine other number-one hit songs, including "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

Les Brown and the Band of Renown performed with Bob Hope on radio, stage and TV for almost fifty years. They did 18 USO Tours for American troops around the world, and entertained over three million. Before the Super Bowls were televised, the Bob Hope Christmas Specials were the highest-rated programs in television history. Tony Bennett was "discovered" by Bob Hope and did his first public performance with Les and the Band.

The first feature length film that Les and the band apperared in, was the war-time movie "Seven Days Leave" starring Victor Mature and Lucille Ball. "Rock-A-Billy Baby", a low budget 1957 film, was the Band of Renown's second movie and in 1963, they appeared in Jerry Lewis' comedy The Nutty Professor.

Les Brown and the Band were also the 'house band' for the Dean Martin Variety Show, which ran for ten seasons, and for the Steve Allen show.

Les Brown and the Band of Renown performed with virtually every major performer of their time, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat "King" Cole.

Les Brown went to college at Duke University from 1932-1936. He played in and then led the Duke Blue Devils band as they performed on Duke's campus and up and down the east coast. Brown took the Duke Blue Devils on a one year three month tour after he graduated in 1936. At the end of the tour "the boys went back to school" and Brown went to New York where in 1938 he formed the band that would become the Band of Renown.

Les Brown Sr. is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

[edit] Les Brown Jr.

In 2001, Les Brown Jr. became the full-time leader of the Band of Renown. They continue to perform throughout the world and have a regular big band show in Branson, Mo. Les Brown Jr. also hosts a national radio show on the Music Of Your Life network. Les Jr. was a television actor in the 1960s (Gunsmoke, General Hospital, Gilligan's Island), a rock musician and producer who worked with Carlos Santana, and a concert promoter for many country music artists including Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn. In 2004 Les Brown Jr. received the Ambassador of Patriotism award from the POW Network.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Les Brown & His Band of Renown

  • Connee Boswell I Don't Know (1950)
  • Connee Boswell Martha (1950)
  • Over the Rainbow (1951)
  • Palladium Concert (1953) (2005) CD Group 7
  • Live at the Hollywood Palladium (1954)
  • The Best of Big Bands: Les Brown and His Great Vocalists (1941)
  • Les Brown & His Orchestra, Vol. 2 (1949) Hindsight
  • Radio Days Live(2001) CD (Early Radio Recordings)
  • Les Brown & His Band Renown (1957) Coral
  • Swinging Song Book (1957) Coral
  • Live at Elitch Gardens 1959 (1959)
  • Bandland/ Revolution In Sound (1960)(2001) CD Collectables
  • Digital Swing (1986) (1990)CD Fantasy
  • Anything Goes (1994) CD USA
  • America Swings (1995) CD Hindsight
  • Sentimental Thing (with Bing Crosby & Billy Eckstine) (2003)CD Sounds of Yesteryear
  • No Name Bop
  • A Good Man Is Hard to Find
  • Thank You for Your Fine Attention
  • The Les Brown All-Stars (2006) Group 7

[edit] Early Musical Short Films

[edit] Television

  • Bob Hope Show (1945) NBC Radio
  • Bob Hope Show (1959-1966) NBC
  • The Steve Allen Show (1958-1960) NBC
  • The New Steve Allen Show (1961) NBC
  • Hollywood Palace (1964) NBC
  • Bob Hope Thanksgiving Show (1964) NBC
  • Dean Martin Show (1965-1972) NBC
  • Dean Martin Summer Show (1966) NBC
  • Rowan and Martin At The Movies (1968) NBC
  • Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968-1972) NBC
  • Dean Martin and The Golddigger's (1968) NBC
  • Bob Hope Special: Joys (1976) NBC
  • The Good Old Days of Radio (1976) NBC
  • Doris Day's Best Friends (1985) NBC
  • Ooh-La-La, It's Bob Hope's Fun Birthday Special from Paris (1981) NBC
  • Biography: Doris Day "It's Magic" (1985)

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

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