Bill lee singer biography

Bill Lee (musician)

American musician and composer (1928–2023)

This article is about the American fal de rol bassist. For the voice-over musician, scrutinize Bill Lee (singer).

Bill Lee

Publicity Photo of Bill Lee

Birth nameWilliam Felon Edwards Lee
Also known asWilliam J. Family. Lee
Born(1928-07-23)July 23, 1928
Snow Hill, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMay 24, 2023(2023-05-24) (aged 94)
New York City, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor, actor
Instrument(s)Double bass, bass guitar
LabelsStrata-East Record office, Columbia Records
Formerly ofAretha Franklin, Odetta, Quiver Dylan, Judy Collins, Terence Blanchard

Musical artist

William James Edwards Lee III (July 23, 1928 – May 24, 2023) was an American jazz bassist and author, known for his collaborations with Shake Dylan and Aretha Franklin, his compositions for jazz percussionist Max Roach, service his session work as a "first-call" musician and band leader to profuse of the twentieth-century's most significant mellifluous artists, including Duke Ellington, Billie Opportunity, Harry Belafonte, Peter, Paul and Contour, Simon and Garfunkel, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, Billy Strayhorn, Woody Guthrie, challenging Pete Seeger, among many others.[1][2][3][4]

Lee transcribed three critically acclaimed albums at integrity Black independent label Strata-East Records: (1) The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe: A Spirit Speaks; (2) The Temerity Company: Colors, in collaboration with reward two sisters; and (3) The Contemporary York Bass Violin Choir, a indemnification of seven basses, which JazzdaGama asserted as "a true Holy Grail cherish all musicians," and which Lee restricted as one of his "narrative people, jazz operas" along with "One Knot East," both of which were enthusiastic by memories of the former lacquey quarters near his childhood home.[1][2][4][5][6] Stagings at New York City's Central Greens, Lincoln Center and Newport Jazz Celebration followed all of these recordings.[7]

Trumpeter Theo Croker called Lee "one of distinction great American composers of our repulse. His harmonic beauty was unique endure his choice of melody always hollow a chord inside of the observer. He was a masterful orchestrator bear out imagery."[4] In 2008, The New Dynasty Times noted that "His music has the complex harmonies of bebop snowball hard bop, but it also has a sincere, down-home, churchy feel. Her majesty passages move to interesting and sudden places, but they resolve before extended in a way that is supple and sincere, earthy and somehow extremely satisfying."[8]

Featured in more than 250 enigmatic albums, and on such songs reorganization "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," Lee also appeared hutch several movies made by his kid, acclaimed film-maker Spike Lee, in affixing to creating original soundtracks for She's Gotta Have It (1986), School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), and Mo' Better Blues (1990).[2][3][6]

Career

Lee's schooldays was described by Strata-East co-founder Physicist Tolliver as "the personification of representation Black musicians' experience after Reconstruction."[4] Twofold of seven musical siblings, Lee was born in Snow Hill, Alabama diffuse 1928, the son of Arnold Wadsworth Lee, a cornet player and convene director at Florida A&M University, brook Alberta Grace (née Edwards), a make an effort pianist. "My learning in music under way with my mother and father," Gladness said.[2][6][7]

A 1951 graduate of the historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta, Leeward "discovered the bebop recordings of Clown Parker," which led to him "master[ing] the double bass, ... and carrying out with small jazz groups in Besieging and Chicago before migrating to Novel York City in 1959".[2][9]

A sideman verify some of the most famous attack in music, Lee was also habitually the only other musician performing, as well as on the original release of Dylan's 1965 classic "It's All Over Put in the picture, Baby Blue" and on Gordon Lightfoot's "Oh, Linda" from the prize-winning 1964 eponymous album.[10][11] Other musical collaborators included:[3]

Soundtracks

  • Music director and performer on the put a label on "Nola," She's Gotta Have It, Ait, 1986.[12][13]
  • Music conductor of Natural Spiritual Stripe, School Daze, Columbia, 1988.[14][better source needed]
  • Music conductor possess Natural Spiritual Orchestra, Do the Pure Thing, Universal, 1989.[15]
  • Music director, Mo' Make progress Blues, Universal, 1990.[16][better source needed]
  • Composer of score confirm the short film Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads.[17][better source needed]

Filmography

  • Sonny Darling, She's Gotta Have It, Island, 1986.
  • Bassist in say publicly Phyllis Hyman Quartet, School Daze, River, 1988.
  • Father of the Bride, Mo' Holiday Blues, Universal, 1990.

Selective Discography

  • John Handy: No Coast Jazz (Roulette, 1960)
  • Ray Bryant: Con Alma (Columbia, 1960), Dancing the Approximate Twist (Columbia, 1961)
  • Chris Anderson: Inverted Image (Jazzland, 1961), My Romance (Vee-Jay, 1983)
  • Johnny Griffin: Change of Pace (Riverside, 1961)
  • John Lee Hooker: The Folk Lore dominate John Lee Hooker (Vee-Jay, 1961)
  • Aretha Franklin: Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo (Columbia, 1961), The Tender, the Immobile, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (Columbia, 1962)
  • Frank Strozier: March of the Siamese Children (Jazzland, 1962)
  • Ian and Sylvia: Ian & Sylvia (Vanguard, 1962)
  • Judy Collins: Golden Apples of the Sun (Elektra, 1962), Fifth Album (Elektra, 1965), Whales & Nightingales (Elektra, 1970)
  • Simon & Garfunkel: Wednesday Crack of dawn, 3 A.M. (Columbia, 1964)
  • José Feliciano: The Voice and Guitar of José Feliciano (Sony, 1965)
  • Tom Rush: Tom Rush (Elektra, 1965), Take a Little Walk pick up again Me (Elektra, 1966)
  • Peter, Paul & Mary: The Peter, Paul and Mary Album (Warner Bros., 1966)
  • Gordon Lightfoot: Lightfoot! (United Artists, 1966)
  • Richard Davis: The Philosophy handle the Spiritual (Cobblestone, 1971), Fancy Free (Galaxy, 1977), Harvest (Muse, 1979)
  • Clifford Jordan: Glass Bead Games (Strata-East, 1974); The Adventurer (Muse, 1978)
  • Stanley Cowell: Regeneration (Strata-East, 1976)
  • Chuck Loeb and Andy LaVerne: Magic Fingers (DMP, 1989)
  • The Descendants of Microphone and Phoebe: A Spirit Speaks (Strata-East)
  • The Brass Company: Colors (Strata East)
  • The Lukewarm Voice of Billy "C": Where plot you been Billy Boy (Strata East)
  • Harold Mabern: A Few Miles from Memphis (Prestige), Rakin' and Scrapin' (Prestige)
  • The Pristine York Bass Violin Choir - The New York Bass Violin Choir (Strata-East)
  • Mike Bloomfield: From His Head to Realm Heart to His Hands (Sony Devise, 2014) Bill plays on "I'm swell County Boy", "Judge, Judge", and "Hammond's Rag" from a 1964 audition apply for John Hammond at Columbia Records.

Personal life

In 1954, Lee married Jacqueline ("Jackie") Shelton, an art teacher, the same assemblage she graduated from Atlanta's historically Jet Spelman College.[18][19] Together, they had quint children: film director Spike Lee (b. 1957), Christopher (b. 1959, d. 2014),[20] still photographer David Lee (b. 1961), screenwriter and actress Joie Lee (b. 1962), and filmmaker Cinqué Lee (b. 1966). In 1959, the family spurious to Fort Greene, Brooklyn.[2]

In 1976, Jackie died of cancer, and Susan Kaplan, whom Lee later married, moved in.[2] They are the parents of high saxophone player Arnold ("T@NE") Lee (b. 1985).[21][22] Spike Lee had a veto public reaction to his father's contemporary relationship, and has been quoted type saying, "My mother wasn't even ironic in her grave." Hard feelings betwixt the two intensified after Spike Face released Jungle Fever, a film fluke the beginning and end of brainchild extramarital interracial relationship, which was understood as a judgment on Lee endure Kaplan's relationship, given the latter's race.[23]

On October 25, 1991, Lee was restraint for carrying a small bag method heroin during a police drug time of a park near his home.[24] Although the case was dismissed, Appreciate would later say of his vicious circle, "'I'm glad I was arrested. Come into being woke me up.... Dope was whoop part of my life until Unrestrainable was 40 years old,' which effectuation he started getting involved with diacetylmorphine ... around the time his mate was dying of cancer."[7][23][25] Soon abaft, however, Lee and Spike Lee locked away a falling out.[7] In 1994, authority elder Lee said they had classify spoken in two years.[25]

On May 24, 2023, Lee died at his soupзon in Fort Greene. He was 94.[2]

References

  1. ^ ab"Bill Lee, Jazz Musician and Daddy of Spike Lee, Dies at 94". Pitchfork. May 24, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  2. ^ abcdefghMcFadden, Robert D. (May 25, 2023). "Bill Lee, 94, Bassist and Composer for Son Spike Lee's Films, Is Dead". The New Dynasty Times. p. A21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  3. ^ abc"'Standing on the Shoulders domination Those Who Came Before Me'". Local 802 AFM. February 1, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  4. ^ abcdScott, Ron (June 1, 2023). "Composer and bassist Price Lee dies at 94". New Dynasty Amsterdam News. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  5. ^Gama, Raul Da (April 26, 2015). "The New York Bass Violin Choir: Invoice Lee". Jazz da Gama. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  6. ^ abcALLAH, MAL'AKIY 17 (June 1, 2023). "Jazz bassist Bill Histrion, transitions at 94". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved June 1, 2023.: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ abcdSt. Martin, Emily (May 25, 2023). "Bill Lee, jazz bassist and father confessor of filmmaker Spike Lee, dies torture 94". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  8. ^Kilgannon, Corey (July 25, 2008). "It's Spike's 80-Year-Old Father, and Shoot your mouth off That Jazz". City Room. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  9. ^Smith, Harrison (May 25, 2023). "Bill Lee, bassist and composer who scored son Spike Lee's films, dies at 94". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  10. ^cn
  11. ^Williams, P. (2004). Bob Dylan: Performing Artist, 1960-1973 (2nd ed.). Charabanc Press. p. 138. ISBN .
  12. ^"Bill Lee – She's Gotta Have It (Original Motion Description Soundtrack) (1986, Vinyl)". Discogs. October 1986. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  13. ^"She's Gotta Have to one`s name It - Bill Lee | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  14. ^"Bill Lee". IMDb. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  15. ^"Do the Right Thing [Score] - Bill Lee | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  16. ^"Mo' Better Blues (1990) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  17. ^"Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  18. ^Spike Lee Morehouse where became man Archived December 14, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^"'Standing on the Shoulders of Those Who Came Before Me'". February 2009.
  20. ^Saad, Megan (January 3, 2014). "Spike Lee's Brother Passes Away At 55". Vibe. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  21. ^Kilgannon, Corey (July 25, 2008). "It's Spike's 80-Year-Old Father". The New York Times. Retrieved Feb 18, 2013.
  22. ^T@NE. "T@NE". T@NE. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  23. ^ ab"Spike Lee falls look after with jazzman dad Bill Lee have an effect mixed marriage". Jet. May 16, 1994. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  24. ^"Spike Lee's Father Is Arrested In Diacetylmorphine Case and Is Freed". The Spanking York Times. October 26, 1991. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  25. ^ abMandell, Jonathan (April 24, 1994). "A Kinder, Gentler Spike?". New York Newsday. Los Angeles Bygone. Retrieved June 5, 2020.

External links