He was Welsh's drummer for well over a decade, during which time he also recorded with Earl Hines, Rex Stewart, Eddie Davis, Ben Webster, and Bill Coleman.
[1] He was particularly popular in TV appearances with the Alex Welsh band, and was known as "Herr" Lennie Hastings dressed in his trademark lederhosen and orange wig[2] with false monocle, and noted for ending numbers playing a drum break and waving his arms with a shout of "Oo yah Oo yah" whilst holding his drumsticks high above his head.
[3] He made two appearances on the BBC2 television programme, Jazz 625, both in 1964 playing drums alongside fellow musicians Kenny Baker, George Chisholm and Tony Coe as well as Alex Welsh.
Personnel at the start were Nick Stevenson (trumpet), Ron Brown (trombone), Malcolm Everson (clarinet and baritone saxophone), a young 15-year-old Martin Taylor (guitar), Jamie Evans (piano) and Peter Skivington (bass).
Due to his reputation, Hastings' band attracted guest appearances from musicians including George Chisholm on trombone, Beryl Bryden on washboard and Betty Smith on vocals and saxophone.