Musician. Born New Haven, Connecticut, he was a swing jazz bandleader and trumpeter. He began playing as a teenager and with his brother, they put together their own group the Les & Larry Elgart Ensemble in 1945. By the 1950s, his Les Elgart Orchestra entertained around the world performing at such prestigious locations as the Hollywood Palladium, Waldorf Astoria, Hawaii, Disneyland, London, Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Guatemala, plus many colleges and universities. His orchestra recorded over 100 albums and he wrote "Bandstand Boogie", the theme song for the popular TV show "American Bandstand", which was the award winner in Variety, Billboard and Cashbox polls as the number one dance band song in the U.S. In 1986, he was inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame. He died in Dallas, Texas, July 29, 1995.
Musician. Born New Haven, Connecticut, he was a swing jazz bandleader and trumpeter. He began playing as a teenager and with his brother, they put together their own group the Les & Larry Elgart Ensemble in 1945. By the 1950s, his Les Elgart Orchestra entertained around the world performing at such prestigious locations as the Hollywood Palladium, Waldorf Astoria, Hawaii, Disneyland, London, Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Guatemala, plus many colleges and universities. His orchestra recorded over 100 albums and he wrote "Bandstand Boogie", the theme song for the popular TV show "American Bandstand", which was the award winner in Variety, Billboard and Cashbox polls as the number one dance band song in the U.S. In 1986, he was inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame. He died in Dallas, Texas, July 29, 1995.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
