Big band legend dies

Les Brown's career spanned seven decades

Les Brown, one of the legends of the Big Band era of the 1930s and 40s, has died of lung cancer at the age of 88.

The Band of Renown was one of the top bands of the 1940s

Brown is famous for heading the Band of Renown, which the Guinness Book of Records described as the longest lasting musical organisation in the history of pop music.

He never achieved the same level of fame as such band leaders as Glenn Miller.

But he is known for hits such as Sentimental Journey, with Doris Day as vocalist, a theme for soldiers returning home from the Second World War.

Another of his big successes was the instrumental, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.

Military favourite

Born in 1912, Brown learnt the saxophone from his father and first performed professionally at the age of nine.

He began his career in 1936, and by the 1940s had set up the Band of Renown.

The happiest times in my life were the days when I was travelling with Les and his band,

Doris Day

He became closely associated with comedian Bob Hope, with whom he performed Christmas tours in US military bases around the world from the 1950s onwards.

"The world has lost a great musician," Hope said. "I have lost my music man, my side man, my straight man and a special friend."

The band was still performing regularly as recently as five months ago, often conducted by his son Les Brown Jr.

Les Brown Sr also played a key role in the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and helped to make the Grammy awards a televised event.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn and two children.