b. 3 August 1918, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, d. 29 July 1995, Dallas, Texas, USA. Elgart was lead trumpeter in bands headed by Bunny Berigan, Hal McIntyre, Charlie Spivak and Harry James. His brother, Larry Elgart, played lead alto saxophone with the Charlie Spivak band at the age of 17, later moving on to work with Woody Herman, Red Norvo and Freddie Slack. In 1945 the brothers formed their own band, which recorded and toured under Les' name, and used arrangements by musicians such as Nelson Riddle and Bill Finegan. Their partnership was short-lived, and they split to form their own units, without much success. They reunited in 1953, launching a "new sound" featuring the arrangements of Charles Albertine with the emphasis on ensemble playing, no piano, and hardly any solos. Jazz fans were unimpressed, but the modern, melodic approach caught the general public's imagination and the band became prolific album sellers. Larry resumed the leadership when Les moved to California but, in 1963 they were together again for a time as joint leaders of the Les And Larry Elgart Orchestra.

Listen to Les Elgart at Finetune.

• (2000)  The Greatest Dance Band In The Land
• (1954)  Best Of The Big Bands - Vol. 2

• Sophisticated Swing
• (The Gang That Sang) Heart Of My Heart
• I Never Knew
• When I Take Sugar to Tea
• Soon

• Benny Goodman
• Glenn Miller
• Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
• Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
• Lawrence Welk
• Frankie Carle and His Orchestra
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Guy Lombardo
• Duke Ellington
• Esquivel
• Henry Mancini
• Frank Sinatra
• Xavier Cugat
• Peggy Lee
• Dean Martin
• Billie Holiday
• Eddy Howard
• Freddy Martin And His Orchestra
• Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
• LES AND LARRY ELGART