Les Kerr

Songwriter Les Kerr was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and lived in New Orleans and Pascagoula, Mississippi before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where he has lived since 1987.  No Depression magazine called Les a “tireless troubadour” and declared his music “both jovial and cerebral all at the same time.” Les has released twelve albums. In November 2026, Les wrote the song, “Farewell, Mister Lincoln,” and released it as a new single.

Upon the release of his twelfth album in 2025, Child of Highway Ninety, Gold Mine Music Magazine called Les, “a road warrior who culls satisfaction from song” and referred to Les as, “the heir apparent to the late Jimmy Buffett.”

Upon his arrival in Nashville, Les began performing at many venues, including the Bluebird Café. He began headlining periodically at the club in 1990, and established the club’s annual Mardi Gras concerts in 1992. In 2026, he performed at the Folk Alliance International’s Annual Conference and the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as part of the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference and he performed for the eighth time at Nashville’s nationally known “Let Freedom Sing!” Independence Day Celebration

No stranger to the New Orleans music scene, over the last forty years he has performed periodically at the Maple Leaf Bar, Carrollton Station and at special concert events including opening a show for Marcia Ball on the main stage at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Café when the club was located on Decatur Street. He was also a frequent guest on WWOZ Radio’s “Swing Sessions” program hosted by Kathleen Lee. 

In August, 2026, Les was asked to recount recording his Christmas album, Christmas on the Coast, with The Jordanaires, who famously accompanied Elvis Presley for many years, during “Elvis Week” in Memphis, Tennessee on the Earle Farrell 4Memphis Show. 

Known for his solo folk and Americana-influenced music performances with his acoustic guitar and as leader of “Les Kerr and The Bayou Band,” Les also writes songs that grab the attention of other performers. His songs have been recorded and performed by bluegrass groups, world music artists, Americana and performers and even the Count Basie Orchestra.

Les’ music has been included on NPR’s “All Songs Considered,” CMT.com and radio stations throughout the U.S., as well as on Sirius XM, Radio A1A, Americana Country, Hootenanny Power (Baton Rouge), WSM AM (Nashville), WDVX FM (Knoxville, TN)  and numerous satellite stations and networks. 

Learn more about Les at www.leskerr.com