Les Reed : 1935 - 2019

I thought the passing of song writer and composer Les Reed, should be marked on this forum.

Les Reed wrote many hit songs in the 1960's and 70's, such as 'Delilah' and I't's Not Unusual', for Tom Jones, and 'The Last Waltz' for Engilbert Humperdinck. He was also a talented instrumental composer and had several hits with his own orchestra.

For radio fans, he will be remembered as the composer of 'Man of Action' the signature tune used by Radio North Sea International (RNI) through it's very eventful life at sea in the 1970's. The tune became a pirate anthem around Europe and it was the secret signal used by Declan Meehan to hint that all was not well at Radio Nova when the Gardai arrived at the studio on May 18th 1983. Johnny Lewis played the tune in tribute earlier this morning, on the Radio Caroline North Easter broadcasts, live from The Ross Revenge. It was very nostalgic to hear it being broadcast from a ship again.

Les Reed died, last Monday, April 15th, aged 83.

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