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Les Davis Obituary
With 60 years of a distinguished radio and announcing career, Les spent time at multiple NYC stations including WRVR, WNEW-AM and Sirius XM.
He wasn't a musician, but he held their respect, with an intuitive understanding of the form and an ability to bring a broader audience into the previously esoteric world of smoky clubs and exciting music. His "Live from The Village Gate" radio program packed the house with veteran and freshly minted jazz lovers alike waiting for hours to enter and be a part of the action.
In addition to his pioneering live remote radio events from clubs including The Blue Note and The Village Vanguard and the Village Gate, he brought concerts from Central Park to the airwaves. Davis also hosted events with the illustrious likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Sara Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
He always brought his "debonair observations" and "resonate baritone voice God reserves for radio announcers only" as Don Nelson put it. Or, in the words of CD101.9 when they announced his arrival in 1991, "If saxophones could talk, they'd sound like Les Davis." But maybe Steve Matteo put it best, "Iconic and legendary jazz disc jockey, Les Davis, personified the quintessential FM jazz DJ, through his vast knowledge of music and his personal and intimate style of talking to his listeners, not at them."
Always at the forefront, Les made the jump to Sirius Radio, bringing jazz to the heavens. It was there that he introduced a new generation to the music that defined his life. His voice lives on, as do his keen insights and legendary stories.
Les leaves behind his wife Darlene and daughter Jenny along with those who were lucky enough to have known him, even if only over the radio waves he called home.
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Mike Amato
July 17, 2025
I first heard Les in the early '80s on WNEW-AM. He hosted the mid-morning program that was sandwiched between those of Ted Brown and William B. Williams. I always enjoyed his commentary regarding the station's playlist recordings. I will never forget a comment Les made on his final WNEW broadcast. It was starkly truthful sentiment expressed in a rhetorical question. Although I completely agreed with what he expressed, I shuddered at possible repercussions such his boldness might bring. Atta boy, Les! It wasn't funny then, but many of us are laughing now!
Stacey Mihaly
January 21, 2025
Dear Darlene and Jenny,
I just learned that Les passed. You know how much my parents (Carol and Ken Silverbush) adored him. Les was like a brother to my dad. I first met him when I was very young and Jenny was still a baby. I remember those times so fondly. I´m sending healing thoughts to you both. My parents and Les are now together, at peace, laughing as they always did and no doubt cooking up some kind of mischief. Love, Stacey Mihaly
David Jaqua
November 12, 2024
I remember Les signing off, I think at midnight with Lambert Hendricks and Ross singing Lil's Darlin'. WRVR, jazz, Park Row, clubs, Such a wonderful memory for me at the tender age of 17. And Les' had such a gentle voice to guide us. Remarkable.
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Neal Robert
November 5, 2024
As a rock DJ I always loved Les´ delivery. He was a music man who knew how to share his passion and knowledge in every break. I will miss his voice and always smile when I remember how he showered us with his love of Jazz and the players who make it happen.
john schadler
November 5, 2024
Les was simply one of the great radio personalities of all time. Not just in the jazz world, but in the history of the medium. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with him. His voiceover work was legendary....hip, smooth and always with a dash of humor. I was proud to call him a friend. John Schadler
Peter Schweitzer
October 17, 2024
I first met Les at WBAI in NYC in 1958. Peter Schweitzer
Jenny Hague
September 30, 2024
I also remember Les as the morning voice of WRVR
I will alway associate him with Weather Report and Heavy Weather which I first heard when Les played it.
Fond memories, my condolences to his family and friends, he shared his love and appreciation of jazz to so many.
May he rest in power and peace
Brian Cassier
August 24, 2024
I remember meeting Les while interning at WNEW am 1130 in NYC. I was always impressed with his knowledge of music. He used to come into the studio with a half dozen books every show with pages book marked with tabs to relay information on the given music and artists of the day. I realized that he deeply researched each subject. Quite an inspiration for a young man myself. All my warm wishes to the family.
Brian Cassier
Victor Fusco
August 5, 2024
Les, I always enjoyed your broadcasting on each station and through format changes. Your headstone should read: :"Les Davis, jazz and more!" You truly stand as one of NYC's great broadcasters. Rest in peace.
Sandy
July 31, 2024
Sandy
I met Les and Darlene as a home health RN. I remember looking forward to our visits and listening to Les talk about his life in NYC on the radio. He was a wonderful man. I will cherish my memories of him. Big hugs to Darlene .
Trish
July 31, 2024
I first met Les and Darlene as a home health RN. My best memory is the story of how Darlene and Les met. To hear Les tell their story with the love in his eyes for Darlene is a memory I will never forget. Sending hugs and prayers to Darlene. I will never forget you two
Gary Greene
July 27, 2024
Les always showed a casual authenticity when we visited. He was famous in NY, jazz and in the world of radio (and many other circles), but he never bragged or let it go to his head. When sharing stories about one of his encounters or conversations with some other legend, it was always with genuine excitement.
Like so many others who got to know him, we will miss his humble uniqueness.
Rest in peace, Les!
Rebecca Mefford
July 27, 2024
I got to know Les through caring for him as his private duty person. He shared with me his years as a DJ playing jazz. Since I love jazz and play some musical instruments, we really bonded. He was a sweet and kind, a treasure of a man.
Jacqueline DeJohn
July 27, 2024
Wow! What a genuine legacy! Amazing life...amazing wife. My deepest condolences to Darlene and family. The loss is incalculable, but his memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him and loved his commentary and stories related to the genre and the jazz scene.
Steve leeds
July 27, 2024
Les was jazz radio in nyc!
Bill Andrew Quinn
July 26, 2024
My first memory of Les was his smile and being quite interested in my background and upbringing in St. Louis. He was truly a font of knowledge, not just of music but of life in general and quite the funny guy; a dry and sardonic wit like no other!! Thank you, Les, for your friendship to a new kid on the block when I began at WNEW-AM and always being an encouraging spirit.
Linda Chitwood
July 26, 2024
Dear Darlene,
Hal and I were very sorry to hear of Lester's passing. We never knew him in the prime of his career but we really enjoyed hearing about his time in show business and all the famous people he met. We know that you had a wonderful creative partnership and that he has left a huge hole in your heart.
Please accept our condolences and our hopes that despite your loss you will have many bright days to come.
With affection,
Hal and Linda Chitwood
Quincy McCoy
July 26, 2024
I fell in love with my good friend Les Davis, the preeminent Dean of jazz radio, when we met at WNEW. Of course, I knew who he was because Lester earned his rank as a hip cat, being part of the downtown scene, and his one-on-one relationships with jazz royalty. Lester developed his legend as the morning man at WRVR-FM, the city's first commercial jazz station, and for his live remotes from famous jazz clubs like Green Street, the Village Vanguard, and the Blue Note. Lester became known for his live remotes from legendary jazz clubs like Green Street, the Village Vanguard, and the Blue Note. Through his captivating storytelling, he became an ambassador of jazz, sharing true tales and anecdotes that brought the music to life.
In 1985, I hired Lester to do weekends at WNEW. Quickly, it expanded to a nightly jazz show, eventually becoming the host of the Make-Believe Ballroom for three unforgettable years. Our friendship blossomed over the decades. I am incredibly fortunate to have shared countless moments with Les, listening to his stories and marveling at his unique perspective on life and jazz. His was the coolest jazz aesthetic God ever created.
We will all miss Les' youthful voice, which retained its vigor until the end, and his sharp wit, wry smile, and keen sense of humor. New York has lost one of its finest sons, a true class act. A hundred years from now, when future generations seek to understand the essence of 20th-century jazz radio, they will only need to listen to an aircheck of Les Davis to capture the pulse of that vibrant era.
Rest in peace, Lester. Your legacy will live on in the hearts of all touched by your music, stories, and spirit. We'll look out for Darlene for you.
Quincy McCoy
Enid Williams
July 26, 2024
I will always remember Les smile and his stories but most of all his love for his wife I feel like I knew him forever condolences Darlene and the rest of the family
Sherrie Aly
July 26, 2024
I only recently met Les. I had the pleasure of enjoying a dinner with he and Darlene at their home. I was immediately impressed with his genuine warmth, intelligence, and passion for music. I send my deepest condolences to all who truly knew and loved him.
Mark Ruffin
July 26, 2024
As program director of jazz for XM Satellite Radio I inherited the staff of Sirius when the latter bought the former. Being from Chicago I knew little about the incredible legacy of Les Davis. Above anyone else, including my bosses, Les made the transition easier. He was as smooth and warm a human as his radio voice would suggest. I fell in love with hos quick wit and his lovely and very helpful wife Darlene.
I never replaced Les when he decided to retire. Other people did his shifts but there was no replacing Les. His stories about jazz, the musicians who made the music and the magic city they inhabited enhanced both mine and the listeners appreciation of the music. The truly impressive aspect of working with Les in the great city I was getting to know was the incredible number of people who still to this day come up to me to tell me Les Davis jazz stories. He had a million of them. May he rest in peace and my condolences to Darlene. I miss them both.
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