Les Fradkin - Biography

 

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Les Fradkin is a 21st Century "New Media" Artist and Composer / Innovator/ Guitarist. An Original Cast member of 
"Beatlemania", Virtuoso Guitarist and a Pioneer of MIDI Guitar.

* Producer & Composer

* Winner 2016 Indie Music Channel Awards Best Instrumental Recording (Sabre Dance) (14 Nominations)

* 500,000 Internet Downloads

* 16 #1 hits at mp3.com

* 22 Solo CD's

* The Akademia October 2017 Award Winner for "Together"

* The Akademia July 2017 Award Winner for "Black Gypsy"

* The Academia June 2017 Award Winner for "Welcome To The New Age"

* The Akademia November 2015 Award Winner for "God Bless California (Oooh L.A.)"

* 2004 New Gandy Dancer Album Of The Year ("A Day At The Beach")

* Featured in 20th Century Guitar, Pipeline and NGD Mags

* Featured in Time, Newsweek, Us, People and Rolling Stone

* Original Cast Member of "Beatlemania"

Les is a successful songwriter/composer from the 1970's, lead guitarist, and one of the original members of the hit Broadway show "Beatlemania". He was a Guitar Synthesizer and Tapeless Recording pioneer of the 1980's, a neoclassical guitar trendsetter in the 1990's and is now a 21st Century innovator as a virtuoso MIDI Guitarist. A classically trained musician as well as being a rock guitarist, he has found success as a recording artist, composer and producer with MGM Sunflower, ESP-Disk, Bell, Arista, RCA, and Laurie Records. Les has written the well known hit "La Chansons Des Souvenirs" ("Song Of A Thousand Voices") for the famous French songstress Mireille Mathieu on the Philips label and this tune has also been recorded in a hit version on RCA Victor (now Sony/BMG) by the Latin Pop icon Roberto Jordan ("Donde"). He was originally discovered and signed by John Hammond Sr. at Columbia back in 1969.

He has played Mellotron, 12 and 6-string Guitar, Bass and Piano on dozens of Top 40 hit records throughout the early 1970's , and 1980's, scoring many US and UK chart placings throughout his career.

In 1976, Les was selected over thousands of other auditioning guitarists to appear in the original cast of the smash hit Broadway musical "Beatlemania" playing lead guitar and the part of "George Harrison" in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago along side Paul McCartney lookalike and sound alike Mitch Weissman. Running for two and a half years from May 1977 thru October 1979, every show (including over 1000 in New York alone) was sold out and the Beatlemania musicians quickly became celebrities with magazine cover stories ("Newsweek","Time", "People", "Rolling Stone") and many major television show appearances. With his guitar-playing in the international spotlight from the show, Fradkin developed a cult following that has avidly followed his career and made him a celebrity among guitar fans.

In the 1980's, he pioneered the introduction of tapeless MIDI recording and MIDI Guitar, scoring many national jingles and TV film music with Score Productions, ABC-TV and NBC-TV, including a 4 year stint composing and programming for the Soap Opera "One Life To Live". He continues to be one of the foremost virtuosos of 12 string and MIDI Guitar in the world today and is a member of the Television Music Producers Hall Of Fame for his work in TV Composing and Programming. In 2004, Les recorded with Nokie Edwards of The Ventures (“Here Comes The Sun” and “Rock ’n Roll, Part 2”) and Les has appeared live on stage with The Ventures as 2nd Lead Guitarist. He has been featured in the successful book “mp3 For Dummies” and his Surf music has seen success with 16 #1 hit singles on mp3.com as well as being featured in the Motion Picture “Accidental Icon-The Real Gidget Story”.

Les is a long time user of Roland and BOSS Guitar products and he has incorporated the Roland GR-55, GR-1 and BOSS SY-300 Guitar Synthesizers, the Roland VG8EX V-Guitar System and the Starr Labs Ztar, into his arsenal of instruments, and Les' unique approach with this new technology has seen release with "Guitar Revolution" and "Ticket To A Remix Universe" (Beatles covers), "If Your Memory Serves You Well" (an Orchestrated CD of Bob Dylan Covers), "One Link Between Them" featuring his acclaimed Instrumental composition, "Lift Off" and, most auspiciously, has yielded a Chart Classical/Progressive rock placing for his CD "Baroque Rocks!" , featuring "Canon In D", which placed #13 in the Amazon Classical Charts and #9 in the Japanese Progressive rock Amazon Charts in 2009. His current instrumental music, is a mixture of various influences and signposts from Surf Rock, Classic Rock,, Baroque and Progressive music.

Les Fradkin - Videography

Les Fradkin and the Symphonic Rock Starr Labs Ztar MIDI Guitar:

"Canon In D (Canon Rocks for Ztar)", "Lift Off"

"Warp Drive" "Liberty" "Orbiter" "Everything Is Wrong" "System Crash"



Les Fradkin

Les Fradkin - Discography-Albums

FEARLESS FRADKIN - MGM/Sunflower SNF-5003 (unreleased LP) Prologue, God Bless California, Black Gypsy, I Challenge You, Christopher's Sorrow, Sometimes A Girl Must Carry On, You Can Cry If You Want To, Song Of A Thousand Voices, Days Of Sunshine, That's When The Good Feeling Starts

THORNTON, FRADKIN & UNGER PASS ON THIS SIDE (1974) ESP-3019 (re-issued as by The Godz) God bless California, M'Lady, Jimi, Christopher's sorrow, Walkin' guitar blues, Oh woman, To err is human, Sometimes Outtake : Eight miles high Les Fradkin-12-String Guitar, Mellotron, Bass, Vocals, Mandolin, Drums

SPLASH (2004) RRO-1002 - re-issue of Trackbytrack 7000 Bombara, Surfin' the classics Part 1 & 2, Apache, Body surfin', White sands, Walk don't run 2000, The cruel sea, Sandblaster, Walk the nose, Reverbia 2004 bonus tracks : Phil Dirt introduction, Body surfin', White sands, Surfin the classics Part 1 & 2 (all live)

A DAY AT THE BEACH (2004) RRO-1003 re-issue of Trackbytrack 7001 (2000) 2004 bonus tracks : Bombora, Reverbia (both live) A day at the beach, Kick sand, Pintor, Key West sunset, Nature calls, Good vibrations, The dirt surfers get wet, Wave rider, Beck's bolero, Hurricane warning, Joy of man's desiring, The bridge across forever

GODZOLOGY (2000) Renaissance RMED00132 (as by PAUL THORNTON & LES FRADKIN) I know you rider, Just like yesterday, The ballad of Belle Star, I'll be around, Down on my luck, I will, Give a damn, Lonely together, God bless California, Black gypsy, Good ol' rock 'n roll, Broadway is blue, Follow the leader,Universal soldier, A hard rain's a-gonna fall, Lay down your arms, The Thornton report, I can never say goodbye, Safe in space Outtake : Hungry for love (With Silver Apples)

REALITY - THE ROCK OPERA (2003) Reality Rock Org. RRO-1001 Reality 1 : Overture, Reality, Magic attic, You can't change me, 25 woman so little time, Reality idol, It's plastic, Here today gone tomorrow, Reality 2 : Everything is wrong, Obsolete, Rehearsals for retirement, Reality check, System crash, The rebirth of hope, Together, Alternate reality : Rehearsals for retirement, Here today gone tomorrow

PERFECT WORLD (2004) RRO-1004 Beach baby, God bless California, Funny how love can be, I can never say goodbye, Smile a little smile for me, I will, You belong to me, My baby loves lovin', Love grows (where my Rosemary goes), Perfect world

WHILE MY GUITAR ONLY PLAYS (2005) RRO-1005 Here comes the sun, And your bird can sing, If I needed someone, I feel fine, I saw her standing there, I need you, Taxman, Paperback writer, I want to tell you, Strawberry fields forever, While my guitar gently weeps, Golden slumbers, Carry that weight, The end

SOMETHING FOR GEORGE (2005) RRO-1007 My sweet lord, Awaiting on you all, This is love, You, Here comes the sun (version 2), While my guitar gently weeps (version 2), Something, Isn't it a pity

LOVE YOU 2 (2006) RRO-1008 Taxman, If I needed someone, You know what to do, You like me too much, I'm happy just to dance with you, I need you, Don't bother me, Do you want to know a secret, Think for yourself, I want to tell you, Love you to

GOIN' BACK (2006) RRO-1009 Goin' back, So you want to be a rock and roll star, Have I the right, I can't let go, When you walk into the room, Only to you, Walk away Renee, I could make it last forever, Spare change, I'm gonna love you, I don't want to do it, Fellow travelers

JANGLEHOLIC (2006) RRO-1010 Jangleholic, I want you, You were on my mind, I'll never find another you, Arrow through your heart, Hazy shade of winter, The dangling conversation, Why is this man smiling ?, Sometimes a girl must carry on, Still on my way, Everything is gonna be all right

UNDER THE COVERS (2006) RRO-1011 Under the covers, Through the looking glass, Take a chance, Song of a thousand voices, You can cry if you want to, I cry, Reflections of my life, Here comes that rainy day feeling again, Montego Bay, I'd love you to want me, La chanson des souvenirs (Song of a thousand voices)

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS (2006) RRO-1012 I wish it could be Christmas everyday, Say you love me for Christmas, My baby loves Christmas, Ding dong ding dong, Christmas vacation, Jangle bells, Happy Xmas (war is over), Christmas sleeps tonight, Hello Christmas (goodbye year), There won't be Christmas this year (cause I won't be with you), A Christmas gone too soon, The spirit of Christmas

IF YOUR MEMORY SERVES YOU WELL (2006) RRO-1013 This wheel's on fire, Knockin' on heaven's door, The times they are a-changin', Like a rolling stone, Just like a woman, Love minus zero / No limit, The mighty quinn, Can you please crawl out your window ?, Absolutely sweet Marie, One of us must know (sooner or later)

PEPPER FRONT TO BACK (2007) RRO-1018 Sgt Pepper's lonely hearts club band, With a little help from my friends, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Getting better, Fixing a hole, She's leaving home, Being for the benefit of Mr Kite, Within you without you, When I'm 64, Lovely Rita, Good morning good morning, Sgt Pepper's lonely hearts club band (reprise), A day on the life, All you need is love

12 (2007) RRO I know you rider, The ballad of Belle star, Eight miles high, Alone again or, Down on my luck, Four strong winds, Mr tambourine man, A hard rain's a gonna fall, Lay down your arms

GUITAR REVOLUTION (2007) RRO-1024 Revolution, Jet, Live And Let Die, Within You Without You (Version 2), I'll Be Back, Free As A Bird, Ever Present Past, Dance Tonight, I Am The Walrus, Imagine, Rockestra Theme

ONE LINK BETWEEN THEM (2008) RRO-1027 Lift Off, Orbiter, From Venus With Love, Liberty, Caravan, Warp Drive, Sailing All Alone, Longing To Return, A Dim Twilight, Telstar

STRAT HEAVEN (2008) RRO-1029 Strat Heaven, Move Along, Crazy, This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race, Livin' On A Prayer, Nothing's Gonna Stop Us, Rock & Roll, Part 2, Stairway To Heaven, Good Night (With The Vienna Symphony)

THE WHITE SINGLE (2009) RRO-1030 Back In The USSR, The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, Birthday, Savoy Truffle, Good Night

BAROQUE ROCKS! (2009) RRO-1031 The Myth Of El Cid, Handel Rocks!, All The King's Men, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"), Classical Gas, Canon In D, Air On A G String, Baroque & Roll, Anthem For All Nations

THE GATES OF TRANCE (2009) RRO-1032 The Gates of Trance (Radio Edit), Go (Radio Edit), The Gates Of Trance (Extended Mix), Go (Extended Mix)

HYPER MIDI GUITAR (2010) RRO-1033 Sabre Dance, All Along The Watchtower, 21st Century Schzoid Man, Immigrant Song, Situation, Layla, Roundabout, Highway Star, More Than A Feeling, Pinball Wizard / See Me Feel Me Medley

TOGETHER FOR THE WORLD (2010) RRO-1034 Together (Single Version featuring Amber Gomez), The Rebirth of Hope (Single Version), Anthem For All Nations (Single Version)

TICKET TO A REMIX UNIVERSE (2012) RRO-1035 Ticket To A Remix Universe, Ticket To Ride, Across The Universe, The Inner Light, Rain, Strawberry Fields Forever, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Things We Said Today, Eleanor Rigby, Any Time At All, I'll Be Back

SUITE FOR ZTAR AND ORCHESTRA IN G MINOR OP.1 NO.1 (2013) RRO-1040 Presto, Presto Variationi, Adagio, Allegro Vivace, Moderatemente, Allegro, Allegro Moderatememte, Vivacemente, Lentamente, Allegro, Finale Allegro

Les Fradkin-Singles Discography - Discography-Singles

FEARLESS FRADKIN Song of a Thousand Voices You Can Cry if You Want To MGM/Sunflower SUN-101 Featuring Musicians: Les Fradkin-Lead Vocals, Fender 12-String Denny Seiwell-Drums Russel George-Fender Bass Randy Edelman-Piano/Vocals Don Thomas-Lead Guitar Dorthea Joyce-Background Vocals Gail Kantor-Background Vocals Dick Williams-Background Vocals Phil Bodner-Oboe Harry Lookofsky & Friends-Strings Mike & Randy Brecker-Brass Steve Katz-Engineer

 

THE YUMMIES Patty Cake / Hippie Lady - MGM/Sunflower SUN-103 Featured Musicians: Les Fradkin- Lead & Background Vocals, Guitar, Farfisa Organ, Drums, Fender Bass Eddie Deane- Background Vocals, Claps Steve Katz-Engineer

 

THORNTON, FRADKIN & UNGER (ESP-Disk) God bless California / Sometimes - ESP-63019 

MADDOG In-a-gadda-da-vida (1985) Sutra SUA 145 In-a-gadda-da-vida (12" single) (1985) Sutra Featured Musicians: Les Fradkin- Lead Guitar, Yamaha DX Synthesizers Rob Hegel-Keyboards Chuck Dembrak-Background Vocals Denise Marsa-Background Vocals 

LES FRADKIN- "Telstar-The Single" (2008) (RRO-1028) Telstar, Bohemian Rhapsody, A Dim Twilight (Version 1)

LES FRADKIN - "The White Single" (2009) (RRO-1030) Back In The U.S.S.R., Birthday, The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, Savoy Truffle, Goodnight

LES FRADKIN - "The Gates Of Trance" (2010) (RRO-1032) The Gates Of Trance (Radio Edit), Go (Radio Edit), The Gates Of Trance (Extended Version), Go (Extended Version)

LES FRADKIN - "Canon Rocks!" (2010) (RRO-1036) Canon Rocks!

LES FRADKIN - "Christmas Joy" (2011) (RRO-1037) Joy Of Man's Desiring, O Come All Ye Faithful

LES FRADKIN - "I Will" (Valentine's Day Single) (2013) (RRO-1038) I Will

LES FRADKIN - "Presto Changeo" (2013) (RRO-1039) Presto Changeo (Excerpt from Suite for Ztar and Orchestra)

LES FRADKIN - "Lift Off (Live) (2013) (RRO-1041) Lift Off (Live)

LES FRADKIN & MICHAEL BROWN - "As Eagles Fly In The Night" (Single) (2014) (RRO-1042)

LES FRADKIN - "God Bless California" (Single) (2014) (RRO-1043) God Bless California

Les Fradkin - Sessions

Past: 

THE YUMMIES: "Hippie Lady" b/w "Patty Cake" (1970) (Sunflower Records)

The Left Banke BELL RECORDS, MERCURY RECORDS

MERCURY RECORDS Sessions

Zobus (feat. Zoogz Rift) "Lovely Lovely Girl", "The Man Who Slugged Your Mother" (1976)

Earl Lewis & The Channels "Disco Party" (1976)

Jo Anne Calebrese "I'm Just Thinking Of You" (1976)

LAURIE RECORDS / 3C RECORDS: New Hope Tom Selden California Barbara M. Gene King Nell Carter Marty Brill Don Lombardi Mara Lynn Brown Barry Winslow The Royal Guardsmen (1973 thru 1985)

DENNIS HARTE "Summer's Over" b/w/ "Treat Me Like A Man" (Roundtable Records) (1973)

ESP-DISK: The Godz Jim McCarthy Thornton, Fradkin & Unger

DAVID PEEL: "An Evening With David Peel" (1975) Orange Records

DAVID PEEL: "Bring Back The Beatles" (1975) Orange Records

DAVID PEEL: "Coconut Grove" (1975) Orange Records

DAVID PEEL: "Imagine" (1975) Orange Records

DAVID PEEL: "Santa Claus Rooftop Junkie" Orange Records

DAVID PEEL: "Death To Disco" (1982) Orange Records

THE HITS Count On You / All The Girls (Wanna Be In Gangs) - (1981) Nobell Records (Gizmotron)

JAMES MORRISON "Postcards From Down Under" (1988) Atlantic Records (Synclavier and Sound Design)

DAVID SANBORN "Close Up" (1988) Reprise Records (Synclavier and Sound Design)

ONE LIFE TO LIVE (Soap Opera) ALL MY CHILDREN (Soap Opera) CAPITOL (Soap Opera) JINGLES and TV THEMES (1980's): Score Productions (NYC),  Honey Nut Cheerios,  American Express,  Crisco, Nestle's,  US Post Office,  Johnson & Johnson, First Bank Colorado, NBC Winter Olympics,  NBC Tennis,  Family Feud,  WMAR TV,  Lykes Meats,  Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers,  Goodson and Toddman Game Shows

DEADLY MANOR (Feature Movie) (1990) (Synclavier and Sound Design)

CALVIN FRAZIER: "This Old World's In A Tangle" (1993) (Digital Editing, Synclavier and Sound Design) (LAURIE)

SAMSON PITTMAN: "The Devil Is Busy" (1993) (Digital Editing, Synclavier and Sound Design) (LAURIE RECORDS)

Recent (The RRO years):

NAPOLEON'S GHOST They're coming to take me away Ha! Haa! / !!Aah !Ah yawa em ekat ot gnimoc er'yeht (2006) RRO-1014 (digital single)

VENUS IN BLUEJEANS VENUS IN BLUEJEANS (6-track EP) (2000) VENUS IN BLUEJEANS (2005) RRO-1006 He's almost you, Miss Perfect, You can't control me, Sealed with a kiss, Dangerous, Dream away, Wild thing, Gone

LIKE AN ANGEL (2006) RRO-1017 Like an angel, Sailing, Across the universe, I cry, You showed me, Another brick in the wall, You really got me, Stairway to heaven

TIMELESS FLYTE - A Tribute To The Byrds Executive Producer, Artist Contributor

Foreign Covers: MIREILLE MATHIEU - La chanson des souvenir (Song of a thousand voices) - Philips 3210.020 (1971) ROBERTO JORDAN - "Donde?" (Song Of A Thousand Voices) RCA Victor (1972)

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