Bill Lee

Personal Info

Known ForSound
Born1928-07-23
BirthplaceSnow Hill, Alabama, USA

Bill Lee

Sound

Biography

William James Edwards Lee (July 23, 1928 – May 24, 2023) was an American musician. He was the father of Spike Lee and Joie Lee. He composed original music for many of his son's films, including She's Gotta Have It (1986), School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), and Mo' Better Blues (1990). Lee was involved in many releases from the Strata-East jazz record label, including directing the 1980 album The New York Bass Violin Choir.

Lee played the bass for many artists, including Chris Anderson, Cat Stevens, Harry Belafonte, Chad Mitchell Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, Aretha Franklin, Odetta, Simon and Garfunkel, Ian & Sylvia, Tom Rush, Burt Bacharach, Peter, Paul and Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Paxton, Carolyn Hester, John Lee Hooker, Josh White, Duke Ellington, Malvina Reynolds, Eric Bibb, The Clancy Brothers, and Bob Dylan. On the original release of Dylan's classic song "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," Lee, on bass guitar, is the only musician performing other than Dylan himself. On Gordon Lightfoot's song Oh, Linda (recorded 1964), Lee is also the only musician other than Lightfoot's voice.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Bill Lee (musician), licensed under CC BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Filmography

Acting (4)

1993
Rage of Vengeanceas Restaurant Owner
4.3
1990
Mo' Better Bluesas Father of the Bride
6.5
1988
School Dazeas Phil Hyman Quartet - Bass
5.7
1986
She's Gotta Have Itas Sonny Darling
6.6

Production & Directing (7)

1997
Never Met PicassoOriginal Music Composer
4.9
1990
Mo' Better BluesOriginal Music Composer
6.5
1989
Do the Right ThingOriginal Music Composer
7.8
1988
Window on Your PresentOriginal Music Composer
1988
School DazeOriginal Music Composer
5.7
1986
She's Gotta Have ItOriginal Music Composer
6.6
1983
6.3