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Les Meade - Biography

 

As a kid, Les initially showed little interest in music.

In fact he refused his parents offer to learn piano, and scoffed at the idea of being in the school choir at Christian Brothers College. At this stage in his life he considered singing was for girls and 'sissies' and preferred his sport. He was a pretty good all round sportsman representing CBC in Aussie Rules Football and Cricket, as well as being School Swimming Champion. Les also went on to play State Hockey in 1958 and 1959 and began a career in amateur Boxing.

In 1955, after seeing the Jolson Story Movie, Les was hooked on showbiz and decided that singing was going to be his chosen career after all.

After successfully competing in, and winning three consecutive Talent Quests at the Charles Hotel, Raffles Hotel and Willagee Park Hotel, Les began to pick up singing engagements at venues around Perth and was a regular featured artist on Perth’s first TV Variety shows “In Perth Tonight” and “Spotlight”.In Feburary of 1956 Les gave away an apprenticeship in electrical fitting to be a professional entertainer, and in 1959 quit boxing.

In 1959 he secured a recording contract with Festival Recording Company, for which he was required to move to Sydney in early 1960, and soon established himself as a sought after entertainer in the vast club circuit of the Eastern States and appeared on National TV Variety shows such as Brian Henderson’s National Bandstand, Johnny O’Keefe’s Six O’Clock Rock , The Happy Go Lucky Show, Teentime, The Brian Davies Show, and the very popular Mike Walsh Midday Show.

Dubbed, Australia’s Dean Martin and described by Rocky Thomas ( the A&R Manager of RCA Records Australia ) as a blend of Dean Martin, Elvis Presley and Jim Reeves, Les has continued to entertain around Australia for the ensuing 53 years and shows no sign of taking a break from his passion of entertaining his audiences.

A talented singer/songwriter, acknowledged as an entertainer for all occasions, at the age of 70, Les shows no sign of retiring and ( since returning to his home state of W.A. in 1975 ) is still presently performing as a solo act, and as part of three great entertainment packages - "Tristars" "Reflections" and "Colour Match Game Show"

If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing Les Meade performing on stage or not discovered his smooth vocal talents, you are invited to peruse this website to find where Les will be appearing, and samples of Les’ songs which you can purchase as singles or complete CDs.