A Talented Prolific Composer, Producer & Pioneer Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin is a prolific Composer, producer and a Pioneer of MIDI Guitar. He captured headlines as the Original Cast George Harrison in the mega-hit Broadway show “Beatlemania” in the 1970s, and Les has played with The Ventures, enjoyed 16 #1 Instrumental hits at mp3.com, won several awards at the Indie Music Channel, including 2016 Best Instrumental Recording and Best 2014 Classical Recording. He is also a member of the Television Producers Music Production Hall Of Fame as a Composer.
Q: What’s your motto or the advice you live by?
Ans: Never record until you know what you want to accomplish.
Q: For our readers who have never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words?
Ans: Neo-Classical Rock and New Age
Q: You write all of your own music; where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the process?
ANS: Inspiration comes from Classical, Rock, Progressive and New Age signposts. Favorite part is when a tune is finished. Inspirations are: J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Yanni, Jean Michel Jarre, The Ventures, Yes, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, King Crimson, The Beatles, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), The Move, Jeff Beck, The Byrds, The Moody Blues.
Q:Do you have any events coming up or recording going on right now?
Ans: Working on a new album entitled “The New Age”. I have a Public Performance at Bongo Boy Indie Music Event on April 2, 2017 at Roxy & Dukes in New Jersey.
Q:When and why did you start playing and what instruments do you play?
ANS: I started Piano at Age 6, Viola at age 10, Guitar at age 13. I play the Starr Labs Ztar, Guitar, Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Mellotron, Synclavier, Synthesizer, Bass Guitar, Baritone Guitar.
Q: Describe your first instrument. Other instruments.
Ans: My first guitar was a Greco Classical Nylon String model. First electric guitar was a Swedish Hagstrom I. First Mellotron was a Mark II Serial #123. My first Ztar was a prototype Starr Labs Z7s which was built for me in 2007 and my current Ztar is a Starr Labs Z7s Clipper with a Light Up Fingerboard.
Q: Have you been in competitions? Fleadh’s? Any prizes?
Ans: Platinum Record for my Composition “Song Of A Thousand Voices”, Gold record for “Song Of A Thousand Voices”, Gold Record for David Sanborn. “Close Up” (on which I played Synclavier), 2014 Indie Music Channel Best Classical Recording “Canon In D”, 2015 Indie Music Channel Best Rock Producer “God Bless California”, 2016 Indie Music Channel Best Instrumental Recording “Sabre Dance”. ASCAP Member since August 1970. Member of Television Music Composer’s Hall Of Fame (TVPMM.com).
Q: Do you perform in public? Describe those occasions? Concerts, radio, TV?
Ans: Been on TV – Several with The Original Cast Of Beatlemania: Merv Griffin Show, Making Of Beatlemania (ABC-TV), Regis Philbin, Today Show (NBC). All over Radio since 1970. Over 1000 shows with Beatlemania on Broadway. Still do Concerts with the Ztar. These shows feature my Ztar compositions and covers I’ve adapted for that instrument.
Q: How often and for how long do you practice and what do you practice – exercises, new tunes, hard tunes, etc.? ?
Ans: I practice daily, 2 to 4 hours per day when home.I practice songs I’ve recorded for potential public performance. With the Ztar, any composition has to be organized in the Computer on board the Ztar for performance. This can take up to 8 hours per song.
Q: How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?
Ans: I do not have children nor a “job”. Music is my “job”. And my wife is more important than my music.
Social media
@lesfradkin @bongoboyrecords
https://www.facebook.com/lfradkin/
Email: bongoboyrecords@aol.com
Thanks for taking time out of your day:)
Record Label: Bongo Boy Records