Les Reed (songwriter)

Leslie David Reed ( born July 24, 1935 in Woking, Surrey, England ) is an English songwriter, musician, arranger and orchestra leader. He was awarded the OBE ( Order of the British Empire ).

Career

Reed has been sent as a child by his father, who led a troupe of tap dancers, ballet dancers, musicians and singers, with his accordion on the stage of clubs and dance halls. From his father he also received lessons in music theory. At five years old he was given his first piano and at age 14 he made all the tests at the London College of Music in the subjects of piano, accordion and vibraphone.

By Peter Willis, a jazz accordion player, he founded the Willis Reed Group, with whom he had four years toured. In his military service, he played piano and clarinet at the Royal Kent Military Band. Later he worked as a bar pianist at the Lido nightclub and as a jazz pianist from different bands in London.

In 1959, he became the pianist of the John Barry Seven, the band of film music composer John Barry. He went with her on in the television series Drumbeat ( BBC ) in which Barry's hits, was among them the James Bond Theme played. In the original film music for James Bond - Dr. No Reed played piano.

In 1962 he left the band to begin a career as an arranger and musical director. With his Les Reed Combo, he played a number of singles and was asked to arrange for various record companies and in television series such as On The Scene and Ready Steady Go!

During a recording session for the new single of the singer Adam Faith, composed Reed, along with Johnny Worth ( aka Les Vandyke ), the B-side While I'm Away. Thus Reeds began career as a songwriter. The first major success came in 1964 with It's Not Unusual, a number - one hit for Tom Jones, the next in 1965 with Here It Comes Again, a hit for The Fortunes.

Reed worked in the following years together especially with the writers Barry Mason and Geoff Stephens and was with hits such as Delilah (Tom Jones), Tell Me When ( The Apple Jacks), Leave A Little Love ( Lulu ), There's A Kind Of Hush ( Herman's Hermits) or The Last Waltz ( Engelbert ) a sought-after songwriter. Among the performers of his songs also included Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley.

He was also an arranger of number - one hits such as You've Got Your Troubles ( The Fortunes ), Green Green Grass Of Home (Tom Jones), Pamela Pamela ( Wayne Fontana) and Boys Cry (Eden Kane ).

In 1970, Les Reed Orchestra on the instrumental Man of Action, which was the theme song of the radio station Radio North Sea International until 1974.

In 1971, the befriended songwriter Mitch Murray society SODS (Society of Distinguished Songwriters ), which at present, in addition to Les Reed, Justin Hayward, Mike Batt, Sir Tim Rice and Guy Chambers belong.

In 1972, Reed and Mason's Song Leeds! Leeds! Leeds! ( Marching On Together) the anthem of the football club Leeds United.

As an orchestra leader and conductor he has worked with David Bowie, Johnnie Mathis, Roy Orbison, Brook Benton, Sammy Davis Jr., the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition to over 110 gold and platinum records to him were the price The Freedom of the City of London and awarded for his services to British music, the Order of the British Empire.

Reed has worked as a songwriter, arranger and orchestra leader to this day and has numerous articles written for film and television, including The Lady Vanishes (Film 1998 with Angela Lansbury ) and B -Mail ( animated short films 2006). From 1992 to 2004, he worked with Roger Cook ( Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway ) in the musical Beautiful And Damned.

Songs

Discography

Les Reed Orchestra

  • Minuet Mash / Nightfall (Single, 1963)
  • Spanish Armada / Madrid (Single, 1964)
  • Imogene / The Pay Off (Single, 1967)
  • Imogene / Copacabana Girl ( Single, 1967)
  • New Dimensions - The Les Reed Sound ( album, 1967)
  • Mr. Hit Sound ( album, 1967)
  • Fly Me To The Sun (Album, 1967)
  • The Last Waltz / Theme Of Candice (Single, 1967)
  • The Girl On A Motorcycle ( Les Bicyclettes ) ( album, 1968)
  • Man Of Action / Madrid (Single, 1970)
  • Love Is All ( album, 1970)
  • Man Of Action / Lest We Forget (Single, 1973)
  • Thus Spoke Zarathustra / Second Movement Of Fifth Symphony (Single, 1973)
  • The New World Of Les Reed ( album, 1973)
  • The International World Of Les Reed ( album, 1975)
  • The Pink Professor ( album, 1998)
John Barry (composer) Kiki Dee Kathy Kirby Claude François Tony Christie Delilah (Tom Jones song) Petula Clark Ken Dodd Mireille Mathieu Cleo Laine The Vogues Sandie Shaw Leeds United (song) The Drifters
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