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John Leslie studied accordion with Eddie Harris
until the age of 18, and has been a full time professional accordionist
since the age of 20, recording and broadcasting for the B.B.C. and many
record companies. John first performed on television when he was 12 years
old, he appeared in the “Picture Page” programme, with Peter Bruff,
(Educating Archie) and Max Bygraves, John has since been
regularly featured on radio as a soloist, and with many groups, including
“Barber Shop” his own "John Leslie
Sounds" on
programmes such as: - "Breakfast Special", "The Charlie Chester
Show", "Music Through
Midnight" as well as many others, He has also recorded backing tracks for adverts,
TV. play’s and films, including "Moonstone", "No Bananas",
plus several ‘Walt Disney’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ films.
John has also broadcast and recorded in many
countries, including Sweden – Finland – Germany – France – Italy
– Switzerland and Holland.A
whole host of stars list amongst those that John has worked with.
Donald Sinden – Tommy Cooper – Joan Heal - Una Stubbs – Anna
Sharkey - Terence Alexander, to name but a few. For fourteen years, John was the
featured accordionist / arranger with Jules Rubin and the Latinairs,
recording tapes – discs – LP's. radio and TV. programmes. Whilst
working with Jules Rubens, John became prolific in writing and arranging
specialised Latin American rhythms and arrangements for the group, which
had a line up of: - Piano – Guitar - Accordion - Double Bass - and three
percussion, (a very busy and famous group indeed) John has also written many arrangements for cabaret artists such as
Louise Lane and Kay Garner.
Internationally, John Leslie has regularly represented Great Britain, adjudicating the C.I.A. World
Accordion Championships, his first appointment being in Vichy – France, in 1973, and subsequently in many countries throughout the world, the most recent being held in France in 2004, where he celebrated his 31st year of international
adjudicating. In fact
John Leslie has adjudicated more C.I.A. world accordion championships, than any other adjudicator in the world, he is also the longest serving member
of the international music committee of the C.I.A. (Confederation
International Accordionists).
John is commonly recognised as the most successful accordion
teacher in the U.K. having taught many of today’s professional
player’s and teachers, he was the first appointed teacher of accordion
at the Kingston University, Surrey, where he guided Amanda Tyson and Julie
North through the performance requirements for the B.A. Hons. Degree, he
was also the first appointed accordion teacher for Nene College, and was honoured with an appointment as “head of musical studies”
for a specialist course at the Portsmouth University. John Leslie is the only accordion teacher ever to be appointed to teach
at the world famous Purcell School of Music
In 1988, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, commissioned
John Leslie to write the music for the first five grades of the practical
accordion examinations, for both Stradella and Free Bass systems, The
music that John composed for the Guildhall accordion examination syllabus
has been carefully prepared so as to be in line with the musical and
technical requirements of other instruments at the same grades. The graded
compositions are contained in three books, which have been acclaimed world
wide, (in
France
and
Norway
in particular, where they have been the subject of discussions in
magazines and on radio programmes) as extremely musical and demanding for
both student and teacher.
In
2001, Dr. Djordje Gajic (Yugoslavia,) now residing and teaching accordion
in Glasgow, Scotland, advised professor, Nikolai Kraftskov, head of
studies, at the St. Petersburg (Russia)
Institute of Art and Culture, (where there are more than 300 full
time accordion students,)
that
John Leslie
would be of great benefit to the accordion students in the Institute.
Impressed with the recommendation given by Dr. Djordje Gajic,
professor Kraftskov engaged John to lecture and teach at the St.
Petersburg Institute of Art and Culture, during November 2001. The
Russian students and professor’s were so impressed with John’s
knowledge, and style of tuition, that they have since invited him to
return.
As well as the stunning CV above John also Owns and runs London
Accordions and can be contacted at his shop on:- 0207 624 9001
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