Editing Les Brown (bandleader) (section)

===Les Brown Jr.===
In 2001, '''Les Brown Jr.''' (1940–2023), became the full-time leader of the Band of Renown. It performed throughout the world and had a regular big band show in [[Branson, Missouri]]. Brown Jr. also hosted a national radio show on the [[Music of Your Life]] network. Brown Jr. was a television actor in the 1960s (''[[Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[General Hospital]]'', ''[[The Baileys of Balboa]]'', ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''), a rock musician and producer who worked with [[Carlos Santana]], and a concert promoter for many [[country music]] artists including [[Merle Haggard]] and [[Loretta Lynn]]. In 2004, Brown Jr. received the "Ambassador of Patriotism" award from the POW Network. Brown Jr. died from cancer at his home in Branson, Missouri, on January 9, 2023, at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Panaligan |first1=EJ |title=Les Brown Jr., Musician, Actor and Producer, Dies at 82 |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/les-brown-jr-dead-band-of-renown-1235484078/ |access-date=18 January 2023 |publisher=Variety |date=10 January 2023}}</ref>