From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Les Brown, Sr. (March 14, 1912 – January 24, 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.

"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.

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.

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.

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

• 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

• Spreadin' the Jam (1945) dir: Charles Walters
• Les Brown (1948) (10 min) dir: Jack Scholl
• Les Brown and His Band of Renown (1949) (15 min) dir: Will Cowan
• Art Lund-Tex Beneke-Les Brown (1948) (10 min) dir: Jack Scholl
• Connee Boswell and Les Brown's Orchestra (1950) (15 min) dir: Will Cowan
• Crazy Frolic (1953) (19 min) dir: Will Cowan
• Dance Demons (1957) (14 min) dir: Will Cowan
• Rockabilly Baby (1957) (81 min) dir: William F.Claxton

• 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)

• Les Brown and His Band of Renown on tour 1929

• With Bob Hope Show Christmas Day 1968 Vietnam

• Connee Boswell and Les Brown (1950) Short Film (15 min.)