Biography

American swing band leader, formerly lead trumpet player for the orchestras of Bunny Berigan, Charlie Spivak and Hal McIntyre. In 1945, Les formed his own organisation in Brooklyn, New York, in tandem with his alto saxophonist-playing brother Larry Elgart. The band, its theme song being "Sophisticated Swing", featured superior arrangements by Bill Finegan and a young Nelson Riddle. It enjoyed a measure of popular success -- until the Musician's Union recording strike and personal rivalry between the brothers caused a break-up. Les and Larry went their separate ways, but neither managed to succeed on their own. They re-formed in 1953, with breezy new arrangements by Charles Albertine and an emphasis on ensemble sound, rather than solos. This melodic approach proved popular and album sales (recording contract with Columbia) boomed. The Les Elgart Orchestra performed at many top venues, including at the Waldorf Astoria and at the Hollywood Palladium, as well as undertaking national tours of the college circuit.

Les's most enduring composition was "Bandstand Boogie", voted America's number one dance band song by Variety and Billboard Magazine. It was also featured as the theme music for Dick Clark's American Bandstand (1952). By the late 1950's, Les had moved to California and turned the leadership of the group over to his brother. They re-united yet again, in 1963, as joint leaders of the Les & Larry Elgart Orchestra. In 1986, Les was inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame.
- IMDb mini biography by: I.S.Mowis

Brother of Larry Elgart.

He began playing trumpet as a teenager and was playing professionally by the age of twenty.

During the 1940s he was a member of bands led by Raymond Scott, Charlie Spivak, and Harry James, occasionally finding himself alongside his brother Larry.

By the end of the50's, Elgart quit performing, preferring to handle the business aspects of the band.

He and his brother formed the Les & Larry Elgart Ensemble in 1945, hiring Nelson Riddle, Ralph Flanagan, and Bill Finegan to write arrangements. The union was short-lived, however, due to the Musician's Union strike and the waning of swing jazz's popularity. The ensemble broke up in 1948.