The Les Elgart Orchestra is one of the few remaining famous big bands from the 1950s and 1960s that is still in demand! Their popularity gained them their tagline “The Band with THAT Sound!”
At prestigious venues like The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, The Savoy Hotel in London, The Everglades Club in Palm Beach and The Rainbow Room in New York City, they have delighted audiences both nationally and internationally. The orchestra has also performed for proms at many of the colleges and universities throughout the United States. They’ve also had the honor of providing dance music for US Presidents and Governors. Brazilian, British, and European performances by the Les Elgart Orchestra have taken place all over the world in addition to performing on the Norwegian Cruise Lines, the famous Mississippi Delta Queen, and the Holland America Cruise lines.
Les Elgart wrote “Bandstand Boogie” which became the well-known theme song for Dick Clark’s television program “American Bandstand.” In surveys conducted by Variety, Billboard, and Cashbox in the 1950s and 1960s, the Les Elgart Orchestra was chosen as the Number #1 dance band, among other honors and distinctions. The orchestra also recorded over fifty hit albums with Columbia Records.
The Jackie Gleason Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and a Peter Marshall-hosted edition of “Big Bands at Disneyland” are just a few of the popular television programs where they have made appearances. The band was also featured in the popular 1958 movie “Senior Prom.”
In West Palm Beach, Florida, Les Elgart was admitted to the Big Band Hall of Fame in 1986. Les Elgart’s wife Joerene carried on his legacy through his music after his death in 1995. Joerene Elgart sadly passed away in 2022. Both their presence are truly missed.
The Les Elgart Orchestra to this day is dedicated to keeping Mr. & Mrs. Elgart’s memory alive by preserving the unique sound and style that has stood the test of time. The “Elgart Sound” lives forever!
