Lester Simpson is an English singer, songwriter, actor, musician and sailor. He is a member of the internationally-acclaimed acappella trio Coope, Boyes & Simpson.
His songwriting - powerfully lyrical or targeted with wry humour - has brought an equally eclectic range of commissions from Britain and Europe. At Andy Kershaw's request, Lester wrote and recorded songs and the signature tune for the Radio 1 series 'Kershaw Comes Home', he drew on his own local roots and traditions for work on 'The Belper Suite', commissioned by Belper Millennium Celebrations and 'March Of Time' for Wellingborough Council, whilst the hip-hop ecology of his 'Make It Mend It' forms part of the Cambridge University Advanced Course in English for Foreign Students.
It is the area around Passchendaele and Ypres in Flanders that has produced many of his most significant songs. Commissioned by Peace Concerts Passendale, a Flemish organisation which brings together artists and writers from different countries, Lester's songs and music have won national awards and been used for the soundtracks of the Channel 4 documentary, 'The Underground War' and Carlton Television's 'Shot at Dawn'. His works have featured in live concerts and recordings in Passchendaele Church and as part of the Passchendaele Suite were performed for the town's eightieth anniversary commemorations of the battle. In 1998, his work for the Peace Concerts' production, The Christmas Truce 1914, were the centrepiece of performances in Ypres Cathedral and with Coope, Boyes & Simpson, he has recently been invited to work on a new Peace Concert this summer.
Lester's work in film and theatre includes a period with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in London. He has recorded eight highly successful albums with Coope Boyes & Simpson, performed on national and European TV and radio, recorded sessions for BBC Radios 1, 2 and 4 and also presents a weekly two hour live show for BBC Midlands Radio.
His songwriting - powerfully lyrical or targeted with wry humour - has brought an equally eclectic range of commissions from Britain and Europe. At Andy Kershaw's request, Lester wrote and recorded songs and the signature tune for the Radio 1 series 'Kershaw Comes Home', he drew on his own local roots and traditions for work on 'The Belper Suite', commissioned by Belper Millennium Celebrations and 'March Of Time' for Wellingborough Council, whilst the hip-hop ecology of his 'Make It Mend It' forms part of the Cambridge University Advanced Course in English for Foreign Students.
It is the area around Passchendaele and Ypres in Flanders that has produced many of his most significant songs. Commissioned by Peace Concerts Passendale, a Flemish organisation which brings together artists and writers from different countries, Lester's songs and music have won national awards and been used for the soundtracks of the Channel 4 documentary, 'The Underground War' and Carlton Television's 'Shot at Dawn'. His works have featured in live concerts and recordings in Passchendaele Church and as part of the Passchendaele Suite were performed for the town's eightieth anniversary commemorations of the battle. In 1998, his work for the Peace Concerts' production, The Christmas Truce 1914, were the centrepiece of performances in Ypres Cathedral and with Coope, Boyes & Simpson, he has recently been invited to work on a new Peace Concert this summer.
Lester's work in film and theatre includes a period with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in London. He has recorded eight highly successful albums with Coope Boyes & Simpson, performed on national and European TV and radio, recorded sessions for BBC Radios 1, 2 and 4 and also presents a weekly two hour live show for BBC Midlands Radio.