George E. Lee

George Ewing Lee (April 28, 1896 – October 2, 1958) was an American jazz bandleader.

Born in Boonville, Missouri, Lee was the older brother of pianist/singer Julia Lee. He played in a band while serving in the Army in 1917; following this he sang in a vocal quartet, and in 1920 he formed an ensemble of his own. With his sister as one of the group's members, he was a regular player at Lyric Hall in Kansas City through much of the 1920s. In 1927 they recorded as an octet, with Jesse Stone on piano, for Merritt Records; among the tunes was "Down Home Syncopated Blues," the earliest recording of Julia Lee's voice. They recorded six tunes for Brunswick in 1929.


In 1933, Lee's group was absorbed into the Bennie Moten Orchestra. In 1935 he struck out on his own again; he moved to Jackson, Michigan in 1940, retired from music in 1941, and began managing a nightclub in Detroit in 1942. Later in the 1940s, he moved to San Diego, where he died on October 2, 1958.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 28, 1896 (Missouri), Died October 2, 1958

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick KC583 10-in. Nov. 1929 If I could be with you George E. Lee Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Brunswick KC584 10-in. Nov. 1929 Paseo strut George E. Lee Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick KC585 10-in. Nov. 1929 Ruff scufflin’ George E. Lee Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick KC586 10-in. Nov. 1929 St. James’ Infirmary George E. Lee Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick KC602 10-in. Nov. 1929 He’s tall [and] dark and handsome Julia Lee Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick KC603 10-in. Nov. 1929 Won’t you come over to my house Julia Lee Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lee, George E.," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355095.

Lee, George E.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355095.

"Lee, George E.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355095

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