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Les Brown music biography continued...

fell in love with the sax at an early age as his father played the instrument as an avocation in a sax quartet. Brown had his professional debut in a band at age nine, and by age 14 had formed his first orchestra. He played throughout high school and college, and after his schooling, arranged for several different professional orchestras. In 1938, Brown was convinced by an RCA Victor record executive to start his own orchestra. Starting with only twelve pieces, the Les Brown Orchestra quickly grew in both quantity and quality and even attracted Doris Day as a vocalist for some time. Les Brown's big breakthrough, however, came in 1941, with the tune 'Joltin' Joe DiMaggio." With their new success the orchestra became more relaxed, adopting several novelty numbers and joking around on stage. Vocalists at that time were Betty Bonney, Butch Stone and Ralph Young. By that time the group had become known as 'Les Brown and His Band of Renown,' a name given to them by a radio announcer. In 1942 the orchestra starred in its first movie, Seven Days Leave, with Lucille Ball and Carmen Miranda, and began a series of Coca-Cola-sponsored radio broadcasts from military bases. Brown also talked Doris Day into returning late that year, and not long after they recorded their biggest hit, 'Sentimental Journey.' The Les Brown Orchestra would remain popular throughout the war years, placing their own unique stamp, on American pop culture.



In the late 1940s Les and his orchestra appeared on Bob Hope's radio program. In the 1960s and 1970s they worked on Bob Hope television specials and on Dean Martin's and Steve Allen's various programs, and they continued to perform through the 1990s. . In 1996, Les Brown garnered a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the leader of the longest lasting musical organization in the history of popular music. He passed away from lung cancer in 2001.