Leslie David “Les” Reed (July 24, 1935 – April 15, 2019) was a British songwriter, arranger and orchestra leader celebrated for his contributions to pop music. Born in Woking, Surrey, Reed began as a self-taught pianist, playing in local pubs by age 14.
After RAF service, he joined the John Barry Seven, honing his arranging skills. In the 1960s, he became a prolific composer, co-writing hits like “It’s Not Unusual” and “Delilah” for Tom Jones with Barry Mason, and “The Last Waltz” for Engelbert Humperdinck, earning an Ivor Novello Award.
Reed led his own orchestra, producing lush instrumental albums and collaborating with artists like Petula Clark. His work as musical director for stars like Shirley Bassey showcased his versatility.
He scored films, including The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968), and founded Chapter One Records in 1970. Known for his catchy melodies, Reed’s songs topped charts globally, with over 60 hits to his name. Later, he moved to the Isle of Man, receiving an OBE in 1998 for his musical legacy. Reed died in 2019 at 83, remembered as a giant of British easy listening and pop.
37 recordings by Les Reed you can hear on Instrumentals Forever:
A Man And A Woman • Besame Mucho • Bridge Over Troubled Water • Copacabana Girl • Daughter Of Darkness • Delilah • Desafinado • Everybody Knows • Fool On The Hill • Guantanamera • Here It Comes Again • I Pretend • If We Lived On The Top Of A Mountain • I’m Coming Home • Imagine • Imogene • It’s Not Unusual • Killing Me Softly • Kiss Me Goodbye • Les bicyclettes de Belsize • Love Is All • Man of Action • Meditation • Our Day Will Come • Poinciana • Quiet Nights • Rhapsody In Blue • Song Sung Blue • Spanish Harlem • Sway • Tell Me When • The Banana Boat Song • The Last Waltz • There’s A Kind Of Hush • (They Long To Be) Close To You • Vaya Con Dios • Winter World Of Love •
