As well as playing with many of the great jazz greats, Lesberg also played in symphonic orchestras.

Lesberg played violin in clubs before switching to the double bass in the late 1930s.

He survived the Boston Coconut Grove club fire of 1942 in which 492 people died and many more were injured.

After moving to New York he played with guitarist Eddie Condon, saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and singers Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan.

In the 1950s he toured with the Armstrong All Stars.

He also performed with the New York City Symphony Orchestra, under Leonard Bernstein, and later with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

His daughter, Valerie Kaplan, said he died from complications from Alzheimer's disease.