Capitol Records Releases Les Brown Commemorative CD.

Entertainment Editors/Music Writers

HOLLYWOOD--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2001

Capitol Records celebrates the life of the legendary band leader with its January 29, 2002 release of "Les Brown And His Band Of Renown BEST OF THE CAPITOL YEARS."

The new CD features 25 standards from the Big Band Era including: "Stardust," "Moonlight In Vermont," "Perfidia," "Harlem Nocturne" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm."

Brown's career began in the mid-1930's with his college band, The Duke Blue Devils. In 1938 he formed the group that would become his "Band Of Renown." (They're listed in The Guinness Book of World Records(R) as the longest-performing pop band in history, together over sixty years.) Their big break came in 1945 when, along with a young singer named Doris Day, they produced the number-one song in the country, "Sentimental Journey." It would remain Les Brown's signature tune throughout the rest of his career.

Les Brown And His Band Of Renown signed with Capitol Records in 1955 at a time when many stars of the Big Band Era were downsizing their groups or disbanding altogether. Instead, Brown reinvented his sound. The band, once known for "sweet" tunes like "Sentimental Journey" and novelty numbers like "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio," became more innovative and jazz-oriented. They kept recording -- nearly sixty albums in all -- they kept touring, and, key to their remarkable longevity, they worked steadily on television: first with Steve Allen and, later, eight years on "The Dean Martin Show."

Still, Les Brown will probably be best remembered for his half-century long collaboration with Bob Hope; a partnership that began on radio in 1947 and lasted through numerous TV specials and no fewer than 18 Christmas tours to entertain U.S. armed forces abroad.

Ever the trouper, Les Brown kept recording and touring, often sharing the baton with son Les Brown, Jr., until a few months before his death in January 2001 at the age of 88.

This release represents the best of his recordings during the Capitol years.

Tracklisting:
1.       I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
2.       On The Alamo
3.       Perfidia
4.       Moonlight In Vermont
5.       The Continental
6.       Midnight Sun
7.       Lover
8.       Harlem Nocturne
9.       The Piccolino
10.      Shine On Harvest Moon
11.      Tangerine
12.      Ridin' High
13.      Nina Never Knew
14.      My Blue Heaven
15.      Stardust
16.      Tea For Two
17.      Swingin' Down The Lane
18.      Younger Than Springtime
19.      This Nearly Was Mine
20.      Invitation
21.      The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi
22.      Frenesi
23.      Just You, Just Me
24.      Leap Frog
25.      Goodnight Sweetheart

Street Date:  January 29, 2002              Label:   Capitol Records
Format:  CD                                 UPC:     72435-34757-2-7

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