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Les Sullivan

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Album:
Released: Jan 1, 2004
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General Info

  • Genre: Acoustic / Folk / Roots Music

    Location London and South East, UK

    Profile Views: 29406

    Last Login: 4/17/2012

    Member Since 1/21/2007

    Website http://howlingtoad.mysite.orange.co.uk/

    Record Label Howlingtoad

    Type of Label Major

  • Bio

    Les Sullivan attended school in Croydon where his choirmaster started his love of singing. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15 and attended a Naval College, this may explain why several of his songs are about the sea and ships. After a short period in the Royal Marines he was invalided out and became a diving instructor on Corfu and then in the south of France. Those who know Les also know of his keen interest in diving. On his return to the UK he ran dive shops in the West End of London and played bass guitar in a pop group. His interest in folk music only began in 1990 when he decided to learn the acoustic guitar and began writing his own songs as he says “Every time I went to a singaround someone would stand up and sing the song I had been rehearsing over the last few days so I decided to write my own” Now, unfortunately, this has backfired as people stand up and sing his songs, many of them unaware that Les wrote them. Much to Les' surprise his songs have enjoyed international success. Artists from Poland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Germany have performed and also recorded them. This has led to his being asked to write for other genres such as film and theatre. For many years Les and Pete shared their habitation on a boat called “Mingulay”, the name for his first album is “Echoes of Mingulay” He now lives in Hertfordshire in a house called "Lowlands", hence the name for the second album “Echoes of Lowlands”. He is married to Carys and lives “way too far from the sea” he says. .. ...... ..
  • Members

    Les Sullivan
  • Influences

    Traditional singing - the sea - Talbot House, Poperinge and a goodly list of music that I'll fill in when the muse strikes .......... ........
  • Sounds Like

    Les Sullivan ! ... but there are echoes of Cyril Tawney on the sonar, and Johnny Collins' IFF squawk shows up on the radar.

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Comments

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  • 1 year ago
  • Mildred E. Hudson


    Hello,How are you ?

    1 year ago
  • Mildred E. Hudson


    Hello,thanks add!

    1 year ago
  • David Franks: Walkabout…

    After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on MySpace...

    Poem cum song 5 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my Blog for details):
    STATE TO STATE

    (TUNE:

    C F G F
    C F G F
    C F G F
    C F G F
    F G F C
    F G F C
    F G F C
    C F F F)

    From Sydney Town,
        In uni. break,
    I drove out west
        To earnings make
    Onion picking,
        On the fields
    Of Echuca,
        That year’s yields.

    After day’s work,
        From Y.H.A.,
    A group of us
        Would not delay
    To walk on down
        To the dirt rim
    Of the Murray,
        For a cool swim.

    On one such day,
        I do declare,
    Some three of us
        Had a big dare
    To swim across,
        From state to state,
    The wide Murray -
        I took the bait.

    Yes, foolishly,
        I took the bait -
    A choice that I
        Would come to hate,
    For I almost
        Did drown that date,
    Making the swim
        From state to state.

    (C) David Franks 2003

    1 year ago
  • Giles Winterton


    Hi Les Sullivan, thanks for being a friend.




    2 years ago
  • Barefoot in Babylon Eve…

    Hi there ...just wanted to introduce you to and tell you a little about the very first 'Mellow Yellow on the Pier' ...which will take place on Saturday 15th of May 2010 at the Victorian Conservatory, a quarter of a mile into the Irish Sea on the end of Blackpool's North Pier...this beautiful historic venue will help to create a special atmosphere & backdrop that is uniquely 'Blackpool' for the high calibre of local & national acts.....Line up includes:

    Edwina Hayes,
    Troubadour,
    Spiral Scouts,
    The Roots Union
    Andy Stones,
    Karima Francis,
    Lupa Tom,
    Jon Brindley,
    Dirty Scavenger,
    Steph Fraser,
    Karl Culley,
    The Magdalenas...

    The festival on the 15th of May will run from 11.30am til midnight with a dozen superb acts encompassing acoustic, blues, folk, soul, mersey beat and indie backgrounds... supporting 'Teenage Cancer Trust'.

    TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
    http://www.hmvtickets.com/events/624
    or HMV Ticket Call Centre 0843 221 0100
    or at HMV Blackpool & Manchester Arndale Stores.

    Tickets limited to 500 so be quick or miss out!!!

    £15 Adults
    £10 under 14's (must be accompanied by an adult, only available on line)
    £40 Family tickets (2 adults, 2 children, only available on line)
    enquiries to mellowyellowevents@live.co.uk

    2 years ago
  • David Franks: Walkabout…

    After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem, & some songs, on myspace...
    Poem 187 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse
    (see my blog for details):  
    A SOUTH SHIELDS WALKABOUT - AUTUMN 2001 

    Out of the museum-and-gallery 
    (Wiser on Cookson and the local way), 
    Down Ocean Road with, to the right of me, 
    Its eateries and, left, neat places to stay; 
    Before, on either side, Marine Parks - 
    The southern-one a most beautiful place, 
    Teeming with moorhens, swans, grebes and mallards 
    In a small lake at a scenic-hill’s base. 

    Then (holding chips from the parade’s cafe 
    And, thus, a flock of gulls squawking above) 
    Onto the South Pier I made my way: 
    Seeing seaweed over rocks - like a glove - 
    And high-and-dry sands held from transgression 
    By growth of grass and the weaving of wood, 
    Plus, in the dim light of a sleepy sun, 
    Fishing boats returning to Tynemouth’s hood. 

    (C) David Franks 2003

    2 years ago
  • Barefoot in Babylon Eve…

    Hi thanks for the add! ...just wanted to introduce you to and tell
    you a little about the very first 'Mellow Yellow on the Pier' ...which
    will take place on Saturday 15th of May 2010 at the Victorian
    Conservatory, a quarter of a mile into the Irish Sea on the end of
    Blackpool's North Pier... Already confirmed:
    Edwina Hayes,
    Troubadour,
    Out the Back Room,
    Andy Stones,
    Karima Francis,
    Lupa Tom,
    Jon Brindley,
    Dirty Scavenger,
    Steph Fraser,
    Dan Wilde,
    The Magdalenas..

    The
    festival will run 11.30am til midnight with a dozen superb acts
    encompassing acoustic, blues, folk, soul, mersey beat and indie
    backgrounds...the ambience of this already lovely venue will hopefully
    be enhanced even further once it is dressed as a persian carpets,
    cushions and fairy lights affair

    Tickets £15 adults, £10 under 14's, £40 family tickets (2 adults, 2 children)

    Please contact myspace page for enquiries

    2 years ago
  • David Franks: Walkabout…

    After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace...
    Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse
    (see my blog for details): 
    CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY

    As gospellers have said,
    Beneath signalling skies,
    On land dusty to tread,
    A trough in a stable
    Was the strawy first-bed
    Of a divine baby -
    The forgiving Godhead.

    A season for new hope -
    There then and here now;
    The yuletide of goodwill -
    There then and here now.

    In respect of this chance,
    Beneath bright or dark skies,
    Faith's the star that we glance
    Attending Christ's churches
    And trying to enhance,
    With singing and ritual,
    Our God-loving stance.

    A...

    (C) David Franks 2003

    2 years ago
  • David Franks: Walkabout…

    After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace... 

    Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse
    (please see my blog): 
    TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001 

    Where traditions are not so rare; 
        Sea, country and works scent the air; 
    A multitude of monuments, 
        Planted tubs and patterned pavements. 

    The longish pedestrian malls; 
        The remnants of defensive walls; 
    Historic buildings are a gauge 
        Of the respect for heritage. 

    Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; 
        Estuaries guarded by shields; 
    Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; 
        Romantic-ruin go-betweens. 

    Rivers in parts licked by trees, 
        Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, 
    And crossed by practical delights - 
        Varied spans, forming pleasing sights. 

    Fine churches headed at Durham; 
        Football kits ad infinitum; 
    Kept castles - one for study; 
        Masonry behind masonry. 

    And, with moulding-works out that way, 
    It’s somewhere for a longer stay..? 

    (C) David Franks 2003

    2 years ago
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