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| Bandleader Lester Lanin dead at 97 Bandleader Lester Lanin, who supplied music for presidential inaugurations, Queen Elizabeth's 60th birthday party and gatherings hosted by the Rockefellers, duPonts and Chryslers, died Wednesday in Manhattan. He was 97. Lanin led his band in playing Dixieland, swing and light rock 'n' roll for every presidential inauguration since Eisenhower's, except two _ those of Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. He serenaded Grace Kelly at her engagement party and Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at their wedding. In all, he played at some 20,000 wedding receptions, 7,500 parties and 4,500 proms, and recorded more than 30 albums. Lanin was born in Philadelphia in 1907, the youngest of 10 boys. His father was a bandleader, and so were six of his brothers. He first intended to become a lawyer, but dropped out of school at 15 to play with his brothers' bands. Before leading his own bands, he worked as a booking agent, employing such musicians as Louis Armstrong and Doc Severinsen. write your comments about the article :: © 2004 Jazz News :: home page |