Big B band leader Les Brown dies at 88

Big B band leader Les Brown dies at 88
REUTERS

LOS ANGELES, JAN 6: Les Brown, whose Band of Renownwas a mainstay of Bob Hope's act for decades and who turned Sentimental Journey into a No. 1 hit and a standard in the American repertoire, has died at his home here. He was 88.

Brown, who started the Band of Renown in 1936 and led it for more than half a century until last year, died of lung cancer on Thursday night.

``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. Dolores (hope) and I will Miss Him so much.''

Among the stars that appeared with brown and his band weresinger and actress doris day, who hit the top of the charts with Brown's orchestra in 1944 with Sentimental Journey and who remembered the band leader as a great friend.

``I loved les very much, I'm going to miss his phone calls,'' Day said. ``The happiest times of my life were the days I was traveling with Les and his band.''

Sentimental Journey became more than a radio hit when young men and women returning home from the second world war took the song to heart, giving it a permanent place in the century's pop culture.

A few years later in 1950, Brown joined forces with Hope for the first of 18 Christmas tours, entertaining troops at military bases around the world.

Brown served as first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the academy of recording arts and sciences, helping make its grammy awards into a television event by recruiting hope, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby to participate in the broadcast.

``Les Brown was not only a gifted musician and band leaderwho helped create some of our most treasured memories, he was an early and dedicated contributor to the recording academy and a great supporter of his fellow musician,'' said Michael greene, president of the academy.

Brown is survived by his wife, Evelyn and two children. No services were scheduled.