Les Hatley plays electric, slide, acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars and sings back-up vocals for The Shakers.  Les loves to accompany vocalists by chording and weaving in complementary guitar lines to help bring songs to life.  He also fires off some tasty guitar solos and plays harmonic twin leads with Eddie.

Les started playing in bands in the early-mid 1960s, landing as lead guitarist with The Showmen in 1965.  The Showmen were a rhythm and blues group, formed and led by bassist Tom Carrico.  The group played countless high school dances, proms and concerts.  The Showmen opened shows for Roberta Flack, Charlie Byrd, and The Chartbusters, and played as the back-up band for the Fantastic Johnny C - of “Boogaloo Down Broadway” fame.  The best years were those with the combination of Tommy Peter and the late Stanley Burley fronting the group.

After The Showmen, Les played with a contemporary gospel group, which was followed by a tour of duty in the Navy, college, family and a career.  In the 1980s, Les began playing music again, first casually with neighbor Mike Parizer, and then by joining a variety band called Nite Life.  Nite Life began in the early 1960s as a group called The Hi Notes, featuring brothers Rick and Bobby Johnston and Kenny Kaplan.  At the time Les joined Nite Life, so did Bob Morris, an extraordinary keyboardist.  Nite Life retired, as a group, in 1990. 

In that same year, The Blue Dog Band was formed with Eric Wilfong featured as lead singer and bassist.  The group included Les Hatley as lead guitarist and several members of the old Showmen.  The Blue Dog Band actively played until 2001, playing numerous festivals, the Washington, D.C. area club circuit and concerts.   The Blue Dog Band opened shows for Gary “U.S.” Bonds, Lou Christie and The Coasters.  As a member of a separate “pick-up band” Les helped open a show for Steppenwolf.

Les has continued playing a lot of contemporary gospel music, including mid-1990s touring with a group called Joyful Noise.   Les has played gospel music at the White House, the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado and with an acoustic gospel group that included Rick Crump.  In early 2001, Les became the lead guitarist with a contemporary gospel group called Seneca.  Seneca was formed in the mid 1970s and includes seven members of the Driver family, Paulie Johnson, Lewis Burley, Les Hatley and Mark Beall as soundman.

Les often accompanies Michelle Murray, who is a local area singer/songwriter.  Michelle recently released a CD called “This Life”, which features Les playing slide and lead guitar on several tracks.  In 2001, Les - along with Eric and Ralph Brown - joined Eddie Becker and the late Phil Dirt to form the current line-up of The Shakers.  Les is also an active member of the D.C. Blues Society and jams regularly at blues events.