Les Brown 1995 Inductee

      With a degree in Music from the Ithaca Conservatory of Musicand "Valedictorian" graduating honors from the New York Military Academy, Les Brown enrolled at Duke University where he became the leader of the "Duke Blue Devils "Dance Band. Les and the Duke Blue Devils toured the east coast for well over a year and when many of the musicians returned to Duke, Les went to New York City and began freelance arranging for Ruby Newman, Isham Jones, Jimmy Dorsey, Larry Clinton and Red Nichols. In 1938, Les started the orchestra that later became Les Brown and his Band of Renown.
       A forty eight year relationship as Musical Director for Bob Hope has lead him around the world three times plus eighteen overseas Christmas shows for the troops. On solid ground in the U.S., Les has performed for presidential inauguration balls (Nixon, Reagan), Richard Nixon Library Openings and Ronald Reagan's 80th Birthday party.
Among the many songs Les has written and recorded, a national favorite has been "Sentimental Journey", a million seller on Columbia and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm", a million selling band instrumental. He has recorded with the best... Doris Day (a former vocalist with the Band), Bing Crosby, Bob and Dolores Hope, Johnny Mercer, Nancy Wilson, Dick Haymes, The Ames Brothers and many more. He also has three new CD's; a live concert recorded at the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater; "Live at the Hollywood Palladium, and is currently recording 12 songs written by the King of Thailand for His Majesty King Bhumiphol's 50th Anniversary as King of Thailand.
       Les recently celebrated fifty seven years of marriage with his wife Clair and is father to two... Denise and Les, Jr., who carries on his father's tradition with the Band, and is grandfather to six.

Page updated January 1, 2004   page created April 14, 2001