Les Reed (songwriter)
| Les Reed | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Leslie David Reed |
| Born |
24 July 1935 Woking, Surrey, England |
| Genres | Popular music, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, arranger, musician, orchestra leader |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Associated acts | Barry Mason Gordon Mills Roger Greenaway Roger Cook Johnny Worth |
Les Reed OBE (born Leslie David Reed, 24 July 1935, in Woking, Surrey, England) is an English songwriter, arranger, musician and light orchestra leader. His major songwriter partners were Gordon Mills, Barry Mason and Geoff Stephens, although he penned songs with many others such as Roger Greenaway, Roger Cook, and Johnny Worth.
Allmusic noted that "Reed's sixty or more major hits have earned numerous gold discs, Ivor Novello Awards and, in 1982, the British Academy Gold Badge of Merit. In the mid-1960s, it was unusual for a British singles chart not to list a Les Reed song".
Reed was an accomplished musician by the age of fourteen, playing the piano, accordion and vibraphone. He studied at the London College of Music before joining the Willis Reed Group, with whom he toured for four years. Having been called up for National Service, he played piano and clarinet in the Royal East Kent Military Band. Following National Service he turned professional, and became resident pianist at the Lido Nightclub in the West End of London.
In 1959, Reed joined The John Barry Seven as pianist. He appeared with them on BBC's Drumbeat, played on many of their hits including "James Bond Theme", "Hit And Miss" and "Walk, Don't Run". He also played piano on chart topping hits for Adam Faith ("Poor Me" and "What Do You Want?"); Eden Kane's ("Forget Me Not"), and Lance Fortune's ("Be Mine").
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