Guitarist, Composer, Songwriter
Every note means something. That is how Les Hatley plays guitar. He plays electric, acoustic, six-string and twelve-string guitars. He often plays with a slide, coaxing all the feeling that glass and steel can give when asked. A woman once approached him after a performance and told him he makes the guitar sing.
Les started playing in bands in the early 1960’s, landing as lead guitarist with The Showmen in 1965. The Showmen were a rhythm and blues group, founded and led by bassist Tom Carrico. The group had a great run, playing countless dances, proms and concerts. Such fun! The group opened shows for Roberta Flack, Charlie Byrd, and the Chartbusters. The group also played as the back-up band for the Fantastic Johnny C of “Boogaloo Down Broadway” fame.
After The Showmen, Les played with a contemporary gospel group, which was followed by a tour of duty in the Navy, college, starting a family and a career. But the bug to play never went away, and in the 1980’s Les began playing music again. First, casually with neighbor Mike Parizer, and then by joining a variety band called Nite Life.
Nite Life retired as a group in 1990, and in that same year Les formed the Blue Dog Band. The Blue Dog Band featured Eric Wilfong on bass and vocals, Jim McAndrew on keyboards and vocals, Les on lead guitar, Mickey Gorman on drums, Doug Fahey on saxophone, Steve Sharpe on trumpet, and David Blackstone on trombone. The group had a great 11 year run, playing numerous festivals, the DC area club circuit, and concerts. The group was honored to open shows for Gary U.S. Bonds, Lou Christie, and the Coasters. As a member of another separate pick-up-band, Les also helped open a show for Steppenwolf.
In addition to Blue Dog Band in the early 1990’s Les also played lead guitar with a touring contemporary gospel group called Joyful Noise. This group was privileged to perform at venues ranging from the White House to the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado.
The Blue Dog Band retired in 2001. From there Les joined, along with Eric Wilfong, a rock and R&B group called the Shakers. In 2001 Les also joined a contemporary gospel group called Seneca, which continues to perform. Seneca has been honored by the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) with several Wammie nominations for best Contemporary Gospel Group. Les has also recieved Wammie nominations for best Contemporary Folk instrumentalist and best Contemporary Folk Group (for the short-lived Murray, Crump & Hatley.)
Over the past 20 years Les has played off and on as half of an acoustic duo called Crumpled Hat, which features the original songs and vocals of the talented Rick Crump. Rick was also in the group Joyful Noise. Les has also had the pleasure of accompanying other singer/songwriters, including Don Bridges, Loralyn Coles, TM Hanna, Bill Mulroney, Michelle Murray, Dulcie Taylor, Greg Vickers, and many others.
Les has recorded with a number of groups and songwriters, but in 2009 released his first solo CD, called Second Chair. The CD features 9 original instrumentals, one instrumental cover and one vocal co-written and sung by Billy Bowman. A compilation of recordings with various groups and singer/songwriters will be released in early 2010. Also in the works is the first ever album by Crumpled Hat, which will feature original songs by Rick Crump and instrumentals by Les. In addition to the albums and bands, Les is also working on publishing an 800 plus page musical scrapbook – a major project to say the least.
Besides performing, Les is active in the music and arts community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Songwriter’s Association of Washington, the Board of Directors of the Writer’s Center, and is a member of the Washington Area Music Association and DC Blues Society.