Les Payne

about

Les had been an institution in the local live music scene for close on the past 50 years. His fans will remember him as the man who always had time for a chat. It’s estimated that he played over 6,000 gigs, making him one of the most prolific live acts in Britain and prompting an award and a number of TV appearances in the early 1990’s. Speaking to the press in 2012 he said “I have been gigging for over 50 years. It is kind of sad in a way as the way pubs used to be has almost disappeared. “The whole thing has gone a bit pear shaped. It is very hard to make any money being a musician unless you are really famous.” Les grew up on the Isle of Wight and he did his first gig when he was only 14, in 1956. He moved to Thame in 1963 and was most recently living in Chairborough Road in High Wycombe, where he ran his Dreamcatcher studio. In 1991 he picked up an award for his gigging exploits – taking the Harp Beat Rock Plaque for representing musicians who played music for a living but hadn’t become a household name. He dubbed himself ‘The Nearly Man’ in a mini documentary made in 2015. One of his claim to fame is that he recorded David Bowie’s ‘Star’ before it appeared on the Ziggy Stardust album. He supported many acts during his long career, including Genesis, Mott the Hoople and Skid Row (featuring Gary Moore). He also played in late 1970’s band Mainland who released records on the Christy Records label. His solo career also stretched across five decades. In 1981 he produ

top songs

albums

Tea & Symphony: The English Baroque Sound 1967-1974

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Tea & Symphony

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Tea & Symphony: The English Baroque Sound 1967-74

Tea & Symphony: The English Baroque Sound 1968-1974

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Tea & Symphony: The English Baroque Sound 1967-74 (2007)

Tea & Symphony (The English Baroque Sound 1967-1974)

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Tea And Symphony The English Baroque Sound 1968-1974

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Hero

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Tea & Symphony (The English Ba

A Month of Sun Days

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Tea & Symphony (The English Baroque Sound 1968-1974)

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Forty Seven Summers

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