Diversity in the Long Gray Line

Les Owen began his career as a professional musician.  He attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA as a Music Major studying saxophone, flute and clarinet. He performed professionally in clubs, concerts, recording studios and symphony orchestras as he worked his way through college and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education.  He continued his studies as the first graduate assistant in Jazz Studies at VCU when the program was begun and attained his Master of Music degree in saxophone.  In1983, Les successfully auditioned for a position in The United States Army Field Band, Jazz Ambassadors in Washington DC, and later went on to the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, also in Washington, D.C. He served his country for over 32 years as a musician, educator and producer in these elite organizations performing throughout the United States, around the world, at The White House and other highly visible venues.

It was during his service in The United States Army Band that Les explored another passion, filmmaking. He started his own production company in 2005 and soon began producing various projects for The Army Band. Eventually he became the first Video Producer for The U.S. Army Band where he created invaluable productions used by the band and U.S. Army leadership for marketing, archiving, promotion and international public relation tools.

"Diversity in the Long Gray Line" is the latest of several military oriented documentaries produced by Les. Initially, the project was intended to focus on the graduation of the 1000th Jewish cadet to graduate from West Point. The topic quickly broadened to tell the story of West Point's role in American society regarding diversity and how the school has adapted to change during its history. The story has struck a chord with many who have watched it and the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America will screen the film at its 2019 national convention in Richmond, VA and it was selected for the 2019 Southern Maryland Film Festival.

His documentary “In China”, which depicts The Army Band’s concert tour of China, is still used in diplomatic settings as a valuable example of how our two countries’ militaries are able to work together for a common purpose.

In China Trailer
https://vimeo.com/74564762

In China
https://vimeo.com/72817147

Les also chronicled the historic creation of the bugler’s statue that resides in the visitor Center at Arlington Cemetery.

The Bugler’s Statue Trailer
https://vimeo.com/74565858

The Bugler’s Statue
https://vimeo.com/73724048

His role as a filmmaker and involvement in the military led to the unique experience opportunity to produce Victory Remembered, Legacy of The Black Devils. It was his love and respect for veterans that attracted Les to the story of The Black Devils and to share their story with the world. The message of the film goes beyond the heroic events of their service to explore their living legacy, which still exists in the villages, towns and countries they liberated, as well as in the hearts and minds of their own families and countrymen, culminating in the unit receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015.

Victory Remembered Trailer
https://vimeo.com/141742136

Victory Remembered Theatrical Version 87 minutes (password is "87")
https://vimeo.com/140381083