Biography

1944-1946

US Navy - Entertained shipmates aboard ship while serving in the armed forces traveling to Greece, Turkey, Italy, The Netherlands, France, Spain, and The Caribbean

1946-1947

Miami, Florida - Played and sang with Vassar Clements and met Irvin and Gordy Rouse who made "The Orange Blossom Special" famous

1948

Key West, Florida - Played and sang with brother, Coolidge at Sloppy Joe's.  While there, met noted author, Ernest Hemmingway

1950

Raleigh, North Carolina - Made music with The Briarhoppers on WPTF and played show dates along with The Bailey Brothers and Clyde Moody

1951

Florence, South Carolina - Played with Slim Mims and The Dream Ranch Boys on WJMX and played show dates with Snuffy Jenkins and The Hired Hands and Arthur Smith and The Cracker Jacks

1952

Danville, Virginia - Played in the band with Jim and Jesse McReynolds

1953-1956

Nashville, Tennessee - One of Bill Monroe’s “Bluegrass Boys”, Les played the bass fiddle and was the stand-up comedian. Uncle Puny for Bill Monroe on The Grand Ole Opry

1956

Wilmington, North Carolina - Had own TV show. The Carolina Jamboree on WMFD (now WECT). Charlie Daniels made his first television appearance on this show

1957

Live Oak, Florida - Played in the band with Jim and Jesse and The Virginia Boys

1958

New Orleans, Louisiana - Was a guest star on The Louisiana Hayride along with Jimmy Martin, a bluegrass singer

1958

Augusta, Georgia - Played with Curly Mulligan and The Sundowners on WGAC

1960-1968

Formed own band with three brothers and played at NCO Clubs at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

1965

Became self-employed. Retired in 1993 due to a stroke.  Still asked to perform at many festivals, musical dramas, and special functions and often plays the fiddle for other bands