ART Lester, a big band leader, has died in hospital at the age of 86.

His association with music lasted virtually a lifetime and brought with it the respect and admiration of fellow professionals and public alike.

Born in Cardiff, Art's expertise on saxophone and clarinet brought him work with some of the biggest bands in the UK, including those led by Joe Loss, Ken McKintosh, Syd Phillips, Teddy Foster and Stanley Black.

In 1964, Art and his family moved to the Manchester area when he became bandleader at the Plaza ballroom, then owned by Mecca.

He subsequently became musical director at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. While he was there, a conversation with his son-in-law, drummer Don Crompton, and Don's closest pal, bassist Alan Cooper, resulted in the launch of the Art Lester Big Band, which included some of the very best musicians in the Manchester area.

That was more than 30 years ago and the band which bears his name is still operating, staging concerts three Tuesdays a month at Horwich RMI Club and a ballroom dance night at the same venue on the second Tuesday, as well as work at other venues.

Art leaves a widow, Doris, and daughter Jo, who, with husband Don, leads the Art Lester Big Band.

Vocalist Jo is a cabaret and big band singer and the couple's son, Paul, is a professional keyboards player.