Les Brown, Sr. (March 14th, 1912 – January 24th 2001) and his band, the Band of Renown, are a big band that originated in the 1930s big band era and is now led by Les Brown, Jr.. The Band of Renown brought Doris Day to prominence in 1945 with the release of Sentimental Journey. Sentimental Journey was released at the end of WWII in Europe. It was also the homecoming song for many veterans. Nine other number-one hits were also recorded by them, including I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm. Bob Hope was a close friend of Les Brown’s and the Band of Renown for nearly fifty years. They entertained more than three million people and did 18 USO Tours around the globe for American troops. The Bob Hope Christmas Specials, which were broadcast before the Super Bowls, were the most-watched programs on television. Bob Hope “discovered” Tony Bennett and he gave his first performance with Les Brown and the Band. The Band and Les Brown were also the “house band” for the Dean Martin Variety Show for ten years and the Steve Allen Show. The Band of Renown and Les Brown performed with almost every major performer of their era, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Nat “King” Cole. Les Brown Jr. was appointed the Band of Renown’s full-time leader in 2001. They perform all over the globe and still have a big band show in Branson. Les Brown Jr. hosts a radio program on the Music Of Your Life network. Les Jr. was a TV actor in the 1960s (Gunsmoke and General Hospital, Gilligan’s Island), a producer and rock musician who worked with Carlos Santana and a concert promoter of many country music artists, including Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard. The Ambassador of Patriotism award was presented to Les Brown Jr. by the POW Network in 2004. Les Brown Sr. has been buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. Text contributed by users is available under Creative Commons By–SA License. It may also be available under GNU FDL.
