Les Reed Heritage Foundation Tribute Luncheon

Les Reed

Heritage Foundation

Tribute Luncheon

On Sunday October 21st 2007, P.J. was invited to attend the Tribute Luncheon at the Grosvenor Hotel, London, held by The Heritage Foundation. This was to honour songwriter Les Reed OBE.

Les is well known for writing many of Tom Jones’ songs as well as for Engelbert Humperdinck.
P.J. has recorded quite a few Les Reed songs, some jointly written by Barry Mason:
To Make A Big Man Cry (1965)
What’s Wrong With My World (1966)
and from the LP Believe It Or Not:
When Love Has Passed You By
I'm Coming Home
Turn Her Away
It's Your Day Today
Why Baby Why
I've Got My Eyes on You
I Apologise Baby

P.J.’s album Believe It Or Not was produced, arranged and conducted by Les Reed.

More info can be found on
the Les Reed websites:

www.lesreed.com
or www.chapteronerecords.com

The Tribute to Les Reed was very impressive. Friends and colleagues gave speeches or sang, with his life and career presented in two movies, which left Les and his audience very moved.
When Les’ turn came to give a speech, he told the audience that he always offered his big hit songs like “I’m Coming Home”, “I’ve Got My Eyes on You” and ‘Delilah’ to P.J. first, before they went to Tom and Engelbert. However, P.J. always turned them down, or Liberty made sure the deal was off!

P.J. gave a speech and told Les that he'd never liked ‘Delilah’ and still doesn't!!
“It sounds like a German beer drinking song, and should have been sung in German with a beer in your hand” commented P.J. This made Les laugh! In the old days Les invited P.J. to record it anyway, and he sang it with a typical ‘John Lennon’ exaggerated Liverpool accent. Les has this recording still, and has threatened to release it one day! During his speech P.J. sang a few lines from ‘Turn Her Away’ a favourite of Les' wife June.

P.J. had a great time meeting old friends who treated him with the utmost respect. Billie Davis was there and sang, as did Anne Krantz.

There were so many celebrities gathered that day that their names escape me! Two I remember who couldn’t be there were Tom and Engelbert, due to work in the States. There were lovely tribute letters from Connie Francis, Vic Damone, Tom Jones, Dave Clark, Marty Wilde and Sir Tim Rice, amongst others.

A few names: Irish comedian Tom O' Connor (who was master of ceremonies during the afternoon), Jess Conrad, Paul Burnett, Bill Martin, executive TV producer Johnnie Hamp, Joe Goodman, singer and actor Craig Douglas, legendary music publisher Kay O’Dwyer, Vicky Michelle (from Allo, Allo,) and Laurence Philippe (from Star Wars).

report and photos from Manja Dolan

with many thanks to Les Reed for the corrections!