les humphries
Biography


Liner notes from first LHS LP


Les Humphries Just like the Beatles, he came to Hamburg, the German Shrine of Beat, with a virtually unknown group, and he is now still living in Hamburg. Not long after his arrival, he became one of the founding members of the famous WONDERLANDS, he plays the organ and writes many of their arrangements.

He started his musical career when he was still in the British Army, or rather in the Royal Marines.

As a cadet in the Corps Band, he was thoroughly trained for his musical profession. Later on he studied for many years in a school of music. He plays several instruments, his favourite one is however the piano and he is just as good playing classical music as he is doing modern pop tunes.

After 12-years service, just 25 years old, he was discharged with the rank of Master Band Sergeant. He was the youngest pensioner of the Royal Marines.

Pensioned-off soldiers usually spend much time on hobbies and Les Humphries has many hobbies. The most noteworthy one is writing musical arrangements. After scarcely two years of such activities, he already belongs to the top group in this field.

Among others, no less a personality than Robert Last has entrusted him with the start of his career and Les is now his chief arranger.

Writers usually do not like to do chorus music since this requires much rather uninspired work and is altogether a specialized line. Les just had to learn it, and being at it, decided to make the best out of this situation. He founded his own chorus group, the "The Les Humphries Singers".

There are just as many ambitions as there are different trends. At present it is fashionable to sing Gospels in modern arrangement.

Here a chorus can show that an arrangement, combining elements of Soul, Beat, Swing and the sadness of the Blues permits new developments based on sound old foundations.

This will not be his last LP, others will follow and new records will be made by this 28 years old Englishman from Hamburg.

In the meantime; "Good Luck, Les Humphries".

1970, Decca Records, "Rock My Soul" LP


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