Brown, Les, 1912-2001

Les (Lester Raymond) Brown (b. March 14, 1912, Reinerton, PA - d. January 4, 2001, Los Angeles, CA) was a 1936 graduate of Duke University. There 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 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). In 1993-1994 Brown received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Duke University.