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Any story of Les Marple's evolution into a singer of such diverse musical styles, would
have to begin with his parents. He grew up in a loving home, but one where his parents
had very different musical tastes....
His mother, from the hills of West Virginia, grew up singing Country and Bluegrass with
her family and listening to the music of Elvis Presley and Hank Williams.
His dad, on the other hand, loved Big Band music and the great "crooners" of the 40's
and 50's such as Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett.
One day, as a young boy, Les discovered some of his dad's old records and was
immediately drawn to the music. No one had to force him to "dig" that Sinatra sound.
Les has joked that he sometimes feels he was born in the wrong era, and wonders what
his career might have been had he been born forty years earlier. His voice just seems to
be designed for that style of music.
But Jazz and Standards are not Les's only musical influence. Some of his most vivid
childhood memories are of his mom's family reunions in West Virginia. Les's grandfather,
his mom, and all her brothers and sisters would sit around for hours playing and singing
the old Country and Bluegrass classics, while Les listened intently, taking it all in.
Something must have rubbed off because it was at these family gatherings that Les first
began to sing and play guitar. As the years have passed, his love for the mountain music
he heard as a child has grown as well.
Les Marple is grateful to both his parents for exposing him to such musical diversity and
quality at an early age. He has been called a vocal chameleon because of his exceptional
ability to sing any style of music with equal skill and faithfulness to the musical genre. We
now know that the reason for this phenomenon could very well be traced to his mixed up
childhood...musically speaking.
Some of Les's career highlights include singing on daily nationwide television for several
years. He has entertained at opry shows in Myrtle Beach, SC and Pigeon Forge, TN, has
sang for symphony orchestras, national conventions, sporting events and has done a
variety of dinner theater and recording studio work. He has been a regular performer for
Carnival Cruise Lines, and is currently available for fine restaurants, club dates, private
parties, receptions, corporate and convention events, cruise ships, hotels and resorts,
offering great music and fun for all ages.
