Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Joe Lee Wilson (vocals)

BANDS:
  • Joe Lee Wilson Group
  • Spirit Of Life Ensemble
  • James Mtume Band
  • Kirk Lightsey Group
BIOGRAPHY:

Joe Lee Wilson was born in Bristow, Oklahoma on December 22nd, 1935. A fantastic jazz vocalist, he has some great albums on his own, as well as appearing in albums by Archie Shepp or Mtume, as we´re going to read. He started singing in 1958. Apart from his musical career, he also owned the Ladies Fort jazz club in Manhattan.

He was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall Of Fame. He passed away on July 17th, 2011 in France. He was 75.

I haven´t too much info about his different groups, sometimes called Bond Street or Joe Lee Wilson Plus 5. Some of his members were: Ryo Kawasaki, Danny Mixon, Stafford James, Ronnie Boykins, Nigel Thomas, Rod Kelly, Terry Seabrook and others.
DISCOGRAPHY: (25 albums known to me - Status: Quite advanced)

OWN ALBUMS (12 credits)
  • Mr Joe Lee Wilson in the big city - Joe Lee Wilson (1964)

  • Livin´ high off nickels and dimes - Joe Lee Wilson (1972)

  • What would it be without you - Joe Lee & Bond Street Wilson (1975)

    • Members: Ryo Kawasaki (RIP: Ronnie Boykins, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Producer: (RIP: Rashied Ali)
  • Shout for Trane - Joe Lee Wilson & The Bond Street +1 (1976)

  • Secrets from the sun - Joe Lee Wilson (1978)

  • Without a song - Joe Lee Wilson (1978)

    • Members: Danny Mixon (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Guests: Kenny Barron, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, Virgil Jones (RIP: Rashied Ali, Martin Banks)
    • Comments: This album was reissued as Hey look at you in 1976.
  • Come and see - Joe Lee Wilson (1981)

  • The Shadow - Joe Lee Wilson (1988)

    • Members: (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Guests: (RIP: Leroy Vinnegar, Harry Whitaker)
  • Acid rain - Joe Lee Wilson (1992)

    • Members: Kirk Lightsey (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Guests: Sangoma Everett
  • Feelin´ good - Joe Lee Wilson (06/2000)

  • Hey look at you - Joe Lee Wilson (10/2003)

    • Members: Danny Mixon (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Guests: Kenny Barron, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, Virgil Jones (RIP: Rashied Ali, Martin Banks)
    • Comments: Reissue of the Without a song album. Recorded in November 1969.
  • Ballads for Trane - Joe Lee Wilson (08/2004)

ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (2 credits)
  • Alkebu-lan - Land of the blacks - Live at the East - Mtume Umoja Ensemble (1972)

    • Members: Gary Bartz, Leon Ndugu Chancler, Stanley Cowell, Carlos Garnett, Billy Hart, James Mtume, Buster Williams (RIP: Leroy Jenkins, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Comments: 2LP recorded live in August 1971.
  • Live au Duc! - Spirit Of Life Ensemble (2003)

    • Members: Vinnie Cutro (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Guests: Frank Elmo
    • Comments: Recorded live in September 2001.
SESSIONS (11 credits)
  • Things have got to change - Archie Shepp (05/1971)

    • Guests: Howard Johnson, James Spaulding, David Spinozza (RIP: Roy Burrowes, Leroy Jenkins, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Producer: Ed Michel
    • Technical: Rudy Van Gelder
  • Charles III - Charles Earland (1972)

    • Members: Jon Faddis (RIP: Charles Earland)
    • Guests: Garnett Brown, Billy Cobham, Billy Harper, Virgil Jones, Lawrence Killian, Victor Paz, Seldon Powell, Joseph J Shepley (RIP: Lee Morgan, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Comments: The album was reissued on CD as Funk fantastique, including unreleased bonus tracks.
  • Attica blues - Archie Shepp (1972)

    • Guests: Joshie Armstead, Walter Davis, Jimmy Garrison, Jerry Jemmott, L Shankar (RIP: Marion Brown, Roy Burrowes, Cornell Dupree, Billy Higgins, Leroy Jenkins, Charles McGhee, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Producer: Ed Michel
  • The Cry of my people - Archie Shepp (06/1973)

    • Guests: Ron Carter, Jimmy Garrison, Harold Mabern, Bernard Purdie, Mark Stephens (RIP: Cornell Dupree, Leroy Jenkins, Charles McGhee, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Producer: Ed Michel
    • Technical: Bob Irwin
  • When destiny calls - the music of Billy Gault - Billy Gault (1975)

  • I know about the life - the musical genius of Charles Greenlee - Charles Greenlee (1977)

    • Guests: Charles Sullivan, Buster Williams (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Comments: Recorded in September 1975.
  • A Touch of the blues - Archie Shepp (1977)

    • Members: Cameron Brown (RIP: Clifford Jarvis)
    • Guests: (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Comments: Recorded in October 1977.
  • Inward fire - Clifford Jordan (1978)

    • Guests: Richard Davis, Louis Hayes, Howard Johnson, Pat Patrick (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Producer: (RIP: Charles Thomas)
    • Comments: Recorded in April 1977.
  • Funk fantastique - Charles Earland (08/2004)

    • Members: Jon Faddis (RIP: Charles Earland)
    • Guests: Garnett Brown, Billy Cobham, Billy Harper, Virgil Jones, Lawrence Killian, Hubert Laws, Victor Paz, Seldon Powell, Joseph J Shepley (RIP: Lee Morgan, Jimmy Vass, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Producer: (RIP: Ozzie Cadena)
    • Technical: Rudy Van Gelder
    • Comments: Reissued of the album Charles III from 1972, including unreleased bonus tracks.
  • Music for a green planet - Hayes Greenfield (2008)

    • Guests: Jay Anderson, Charlie Giordano, Bob Stewart (RIP: Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Technical: (RIP: David Baker)
  • Attica blues big band - live at The Palais Des Glaces - Archie Shepp ( - )

    • Members: (RIP: Clifford Jarvis)
    • Guests: Kevin Jones, Steve Turre (RIP: Marion Brown, Charles McGhee, Eddie Preston, Joe Lee Wilson)
    • Comments: 2LP, recorded live in 1979.
RELATED MUSICIANS:

Joe Lee Wilson mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Archie Shepp (6)
Charles Greenlee (5)
Beaver Harris (4)
Leroy Jenkins (4)
Virgil Jones (4)
Monty Waters (4)
Rashied Ali (3)
Dave Burrell (3)
Dick Griffin (3)
Cal Massey (3)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 20/July/2011 - Last modified on: 20/July/2011. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com
Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.
en

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