Les Howard plays a wide selection of popular rock 'n' roll, classic country and folk songs from the '50s, '60s & '70s. His repertoire is drawn from artists like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams and many others. Les's songs and stories appeal to an older audience who, like himself, mostly grew up listening to the same music or to a younger audience who want to hear some of the classic oldies.
4 reviews
Vicki W.
September 12, 2021Entertaining
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Les Howard
Thanks, Vicky. It was my pleasure to perform at your father's memorial.
Kimberly M.
August 19, 2019Everyone loved him. He took requests and it made the party extra special. He was also really prompt to respond and confirm he could make it on last minute notice.
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Les Howard
Thanks Kimberly. I enjoyed playing for your parents' 50th anniversary party. With everybody dancing and singing along to those oldies, I felt like I was playing for my high school friends once again. My compliments to your chef for the wonderful BBQ.
Sandra F.
August 9, 2019We were extremely pleased with the entire process in booking Les for an 85th bday. He is extremely responsive in his communications and arrived exactly on time. We had requested back-ground music and that is exactly what he provided. I have received many compliments from all the guests - loved his songs, thought he added an amazing touch to the party! Would highly recommend Les!
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Les Howard
Thanks, Sandra. I enjoyed playing for your Dad's 85th birthday party. We chatted a bit between sets and I was able to slip in a couple of songs he remembered from the '50s. What a wonderful day you had with all the bright sunshine and blue skies, kids splashing in the pool, and family & friends gathered around the picnic tables on the back lawn for a BBQ.
Janet G.
July 29, 2019Les was absolutely amazing for our community BBQ! He had a great playlist and was excellent at engaging the crowd! I would not hesitate for a second to book Les again!
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Les Howard
Thanks, Janet. Even a brief summer shower failed to dampen the community spirit. It was a pleasure to play for such an enthusiastic audience.
Price range: $200 and up
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 240 minutes
Les can work with you to make your event a success. Where would you like him to play? Here are a few examples of places he's played in the past:
⦿ House concerts, Outdoor barbeques, Barns.
⦿ Retirement homes.
⦿ Hotels, Restaurants, bars & bistros.
⦿ Concert halls, School gymnasiums, Community halls, banquet halls.
⦿ Parks, Festivals, Parades.
Les can provide a sound system if your venue does not have one. Would you like a solo performance or would you prefer more musicians or a full band? Do you have any specific song or artist requests?
Les is available for shows throughout Canada and the USA.
Additional fees and expenses may apply for travel, equipment rentals or additional musicians and will be included in your quote.
Les Howard grew up listening and dancing to the hit rock 'n' roll, country and folk music of the '50s, '60s, & '70s. He soon learned to play guitar and started entertaining his family and friends. All the teens in the neighborhood spent many sunny summer afternoons dancing on the the Howard's patio while Les sang and played. While still in high school, he formed the popular instrumental band, The Outcasts, and played dances and concerts for teens and adults in Western Canada and the USA. Today Les is still thrilled to perform his favorite songs for enthusiastic audiences tapping their toes and singing along while he recreates the sounds of the '50s.
Lighting, staging, electrical and sound requirements vary a lot. Mostly they depend on the nature of the venue, the size of the audience and the instrumentation of the band. For a small solo performance like a house concert, a 6 foot (2 meter) square stage area with an electrical outlet would be enough. A full five piece band would need about 8' x 20' (3m x 6m) with at least 6 outlets.
If you are planning an outdoor event, Les recommends having a covered location like a tent for the musician(s). For everyone's safety, the stage area should not be located on grass because of the possible electrical hazards. In case of inclement weather, you should also consider a backup indoor location.
Thursday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Brechin, ON
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Hillsdale, ON
Friday
Anniversary Party
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Coboconk, ON
Saturday
Birthday Party
2:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Barrie, ON
Saturday
Fundraiser
12:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Barrie, ON
Sunday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Innisfil, ON
Every show is different. Les tailors his set list to suit the specific audience and will take requests for specific songs or artists. He can create 'tribute shows' for specific artists like Elvis, Buddy Holly, Gordon Lightfoot or Johnny Cash. He also can cater to special events like Christmas, birthdays or Remembrance Day. The songs below are listed with the original artists to give a flavor of the types of songs Les performs and is not a comprehensive list of all the songs he knows.
ELVIS PRESLEY: Little Sister, A Mess Of Blues, That's All Right Mama, My Baby Left Me, Mystery Train, Don't, Love Me, It's Now Or Never, Paralyzed, One Night With You, Love Me Tender, So Glad You're Mine, Heartbreak Hotel, Tryin' To Get To You, Mean Woman Blues
BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETS: That'll Be The Day, Maybe Baby, Peggy Sue, It Doesn't Matter Anymore, True Love Ways, Rave On, Oh Boy, Reminiscing, Words Of Love, Well All Right, Tell Me How, Heartbeat, Lonesome Tears, I'm Looking For Someone To Love, Peggy Sue Got Married, Listen To Me
THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Bye Bye Love, Love Hurts, Crying In The Rain, Let It Be Me, Claudette
ROY ORBISON: Only The Lonely, Crying, Leah, Up Town, You Got It, Pretty Paper, Blue Bayou, Dream Baby, Candy Man, Blue Angel, Pretty Woman
RICK NELSON: Hello Mary Lou, Lonesome Town, Travellin' Man, Poor Little Fool, Waiting In School, It's Late, Believe What You Say, Stood Up
DION: Ruby Baby, Teenager In Love
FATS DOMINO: Blueberry Hill, Ain't That A Shame, Walking To New Orleans
CARL PERKINS: Blue Suede Shoes, Honey Don't, Matchbox
CHUCK BERRY: Memphis, C'est La Vie, Maybelline, Johnny B. Goode, Rock 'n' Roll Music, Sweet Little Sixteen
EDDIE COCHRAN: Summertime Blues, Three Steps To Heaven, Cut Across Shorty, Sittin' In The Balcony
GENE VINCENT: Be Bop A Lula
JACK SCOTT: What In The World's Come Over You, With Your Love, My True Love, Geraldine, I Never Felt Like This, Midgie, Leroy, Burning Bridges, Indiana Waltz
BUDDY KNOX: Party Doll, Hula Love, Somebody Touched Me, Rock Your Little Baby To Sleep, Storm Clouds, All For You, Teasable Pleasable You
RICHIE VALENS: Donna, Come On Let's Go
JOHNNY BURNETTE: You're Sixteen, Dreamin'
BOBBY DARIN: Dream Lover
LLOYD PRICE: Stagger Lee, Lawdy Miss Claudy
BEATLES: Here Comes The Sun
SANFORD CLARK: The Fool
JIM LOWE: Green Door
FLOYD ROBINSON: Makin' Love
ROBIN LUKE: Susie Darlin'
JODY REYNOLDS: Endless Sleep
DRIFTERS: Save The Last Dance For Me, This Magic Moment
JACKIE DESHANNON: Needles And Pins, When You Walk In The Room
TOMMY ROE: Shiela
BOBBY VEE: Susie Baby
NEIL DIAMOND: Solitary Man
BERTIE HIGGINS: Just Another Day In Paradise, Key Largo
SIMON & GARFUNKEL: The Boxer, Bridge Over Troubled Water
GORDON LIGHTFOOT: I'm Not Sayin', Canadian Railroad Trilogy, The Way I Feel, Spin Spin, Ten Degrees And Gettin' Colder, Go Go Round, Softly, Song For A Winter's Night, If You Could Read My Mind, Affair On Eighth Avenue, Steel Rail Blues, Home From The Forest, Early Mornin' Rain
JOHN DENVER: Back Home Again, Rocky Mountain Suite, Some Days Are Diamonds, Take Me Home Country Roads
TIM HARDIN: If I Were A Carpenter, Reason To Believe
BOB DYLAN: Girl From The North Country, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Lay Lady Lay
LEONARD COHEN: Suzanne, Hallelujah
IAN & SYLVIA TYSON: Four Strong Winds, Someday Soon, Summer Wages
WILLIE NELSON: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
WAYLON JENNINGS: Amanda, Good Hearted Woman
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON: Me And Bobby McGee
JERRY JEFF WALKER: Mr. Bojangles
JOHNNY CASH: Big River, Folsom Prison Blues, Give My Love To Rose, Seasons Of My Heart, Tennessee Flat Top Box, I Still Miss Someone, I Walk The Line, Ring Of Fire
HANK WILLIAMS: Kaw-Liga, Hey Good Lookin', I Can't Help It, No One Will Ever Know, Move It On Over, Lovesick Blues, Long Gone Lonesome Blues
MARTY ROBBINS: El Paso, Big Iron, Strawberry Roan, The Master's Call, Utah Carol, Running Gun, Just Married, Singin' The Blues
HANK SNOW: I'm Movin' On, I Don't Hurt Anymore, Wedding Bells, A Fool Such As I, Miller's Cave, Rockin' Rollin' Ocean
JOHNNY HORTON: All For The Love Of A Girl, Whispering Pines, Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
EMMYLOU HARRIS: Pancho And Lefty, Two More Bottles Of Wine
NANCI GRIFFITH: Across The Great Divide, Tecumseh Valley
Rock 'n' roll: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Rick Nelson
Country: Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, The Carter Family, Emmylou Harris, Hank Snow, Marty Robbins
Folk: Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen
Instrumental: Chet Atkins, The Ventures, Duane Eddy, Doc Watson, Mother Maybelle Carter
See notes/technical information.
Singing Guitarist