It took a generous music publisher, an arranger who needed some money, a bandleader with big ideas and a girl singer who was willing to stretch her voice to bring "Sentimental Journey" to sucesssful fruition. Ben Homer, the arranger for Les Brown's band during World War II, was the one in need of money. Buddy Morris was the publisher who offered him an advance and a place to work. Les Brown was the bandleader who worked with Homer on the tune and who, in his own words, "made the song too rangy"--that is, covering such a wide range that it was difficult for most singers. Doris Day, the band's vocalist, had the range to cope with Brown's expansive ideas. "Sentimental Journey" became such a smash hit for Les Brown that he started using it as his signature theme.

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars."
-- Les Brown

In 2001, Les Brown, whose Band of Renown was a mainstay of Bob Hope's act for decades and who turned Sentimental Journey into a No. 1 hit and a standard in the American repertoire, has died at his home here. He was 88. "The world has lost a great musician," Bob Hope said. "I have lost my music man, my side man, my straight man and a special friend. Dolores and I will miss him so much."

 

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