Les Brown

American big band leader, composer, saxophonist and clarinetist.

A graduate of Duke University where he led his first dance band, the Duke Blue Devils, for which he also played clarinet and saxophone. The band would go on to professional fame in the 1940s under the name [a=Les Brown And His Band Of Renown]. During that decade Brown had several hit songs, most notably "Sentimental Journey" (1944) and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" (1946). He performed extensively with Bob Hope and led the house bands for "The Steve Allen Show" (1959-1961) and "The Dean Martin Show" (1963-1972).

Born: March 14, 1912, Reinerton, Pennsylvania.

Died: January 4, 2001, Los Angeles, California.