Les Reed
Leslie David Reed OBE, known as Les Reed, was born on July 24, 1935, in Woking, Surrey, England, and passed away on April 15, 2019, in Petersfield, Hampshire. Reed was a renowned English songwriter, arranger, musician, and orchestra leader, active from 1959 to 2019. He was celebrated for his contributions to both popular and classical music genres.
Reed's early musical education included studying at the London College of Music, and he was proficient in playing the piano, accordion, and vibraphone by the age of 14. His career began with the Willis Reed Group and later included a stint in the Royal East Kent Military Band during his National Service. In 1959, he joined The John Barry Seven as their pianist.
Reed's songwriting career took off in the mid-1960s, with successful partnerships with Gordon Mills, Barry Mason, and Geoff Stephens. He co-wrote around sixty charting songs, including iconic hits like "It's Not Unusual" and "Delilah" for Tom Jones, and "The Last Waltz" for Engelbert Humperdinck. His work earned him multiple Gold discs and Ivor Novello Awards, and he was recognized with the British Academy Gold Badge of Merit in 1982.
In addition to songwriting, Reed led his own orchestra and was involved in film scoring, notably for "The Girl on a Motorcycle" (1968). He also founded Chapter One Records in 1970. Reed's contributions to music were honored with an OBE in 1998, and he is remembered as a significant figure in British easy listening and pop music.
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