Bryan Lee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bryan Lee
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Bryan Lee at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on May 1, 2010.
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Braille Blues Daddy |
| Born | March 16, 1943 Two Rivers, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | August 21, 2020 (aged 77) |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1982–2020 |
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Bryan Lee (born March 16, 1943 – died August 21, 2020) was an American blues musician. He was a talented guitarist and singer. Bryan Lee lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, for many years. People often called him 'Braille Blues Daddy'. He was famous for playing on Bourbon Street starting in the 1980s.
Contents
Bryan Lee's Musical Journey
Early Life and Discovering Music
Bryan Lee was born on March 16, 1943, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. He lost his eyesight completely by the time he was eight years old. Even without sight, Bryan loved music.
In the 1950s, he would listen late at night to a radio station from Nashville called WLAC-AM. This is where he first heard amazing blues artists like Elmore James, Albert King, and Albert Collins. Their music inspired him greatly.
Starting His Career
When Bryan was a teenager, he played rhythm guitar in a band called The Glaciers. They played popular songs by artists like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry.
In the 1960s, Bryan became very interested in Chicago blues. He even got to open shows for some of the musicians he admired when he was younger. In 1979, he released his very first album, which was called Beauty Isn't Always Visual.
Becoming a Star in New Orleans
In January 1982, Bryan Lee moved to New Orleans. He soon found a regular job playing at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street. This bar is in the famous French Quarter of the city. Tourists loved his music.
For 14 years, Bryan Lee and his band, the Jump Street Five, played five nights a week at this popular spot. They became very well-known and had many fans. Bryan Lee continued to perform in New Orleans for the rest of his life.
He also toured around the United States and even in Europe and Brazil. On February 14, 2007, Bryan Lee appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with musician Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Bryan Lee passed away on August 21, 2020, at the age of 77.
Bryan Lee's Albums
Bryan Lee released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- 1979 Beauty Isn't Always Visual
- 1984 Bourbon Street Beat
- 1991 The Blues Is...
- 1995 Braille Blues Daddy
- 2007 Katrina Was Her Name
- 2013 Play One for Me
He also had a compilation album of his best songs:
- 2003 Bryan Lee's Greatest Hits
