Bunny Lee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bunny Lee OD
Bunny Lee in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Edward O'Sullivan Lee
Also known as	Striker Lee
Born	(1941-08-23)23 August 1941
Died	6 October 2020(2020-10-06) (aged 79)
Genres	Reggae
Occupation(s)	Record producer
Labels	Jackpot, Third World, Lee's, Striker Lee
Associated acts	The Aggrovators

Edward O'Sullivan Lee (born August 23, 1941, died October 6, 2020) was a famous Jamaican music producer. He was better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee. Bunny Lee helped make reggae music popular around the world. He was especially important in the United Kingdom music scene in the early 1970s. He worked with other music legends like Lee "Scratch" Perry and King Tubby.

Early Life of Bunny Lee

Bunny Lee was born on August 23, 1941. He grew up in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston, Jamaica. His father worked as a shoemaker there.

Bunny Lee's Music Career

Bunny Lee started his music career in 1962. He worked as a "record plugger" for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label. A record plugger helps get songs played on the radio. He also did this job for Leslie Kong. Later, he worked with Ken Lack, first in an office role, then helping with sound engineering.

Becoming a Music Producer

Bunny Lee soon started producing records himself. This means he helped pay for the recordings and guided the artists. His first big hit was "Music Field" by Roy Shirley in 1967. After that, he created his own music label called Lee's.

He produced many more popular songs in 1967 and 1968. These included hits by Lester Sterling and Stranger Cole, Derrick Morgan, Slim Smith, and The Uniques. His work made him one of Jamaica's top music producers.

Spreading Reggae Music

Bunny Lee was a pioneer in bringing reggae music to the United Kingdom. In the early 1970s, he allowed his music to be released by companies like Pama and Trojan Records. This helped many people outside Jamaica discover reggae.

In the mid-1970s, Lee worked with Johnny Clarke, who became one of his most successful singers. He also worked with Owen Gray and Cornell Campbell. During this time, Bunny Lee and Lee "Scratch" Perry helped change the music scene. They challenged the long-standing influence of producers like Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid.

The "Flying Cymbal" Sound

This era also saw a new sound in Lee's productions called the "flying cymbal." This unique drum sound was developed by drummer Carlton 'Santa' Davis. He played with Lee's band, The Aggrovators.

Dub Music Pioneer

Bunny Lee was very important in creating early dub music. He worked closely with his friend King Tubby in the early 1970s. They experimented with new ways to make music. Lee called their methods "implements of sound."

They used simple equipment to create tracks that focused on the rhythm. They would also change or distort parts of a song. Lee encouraged Tubby to create wilder dub mixes. Sometimes, they even added sound effects like thunder or gunshots. Besides King Tubby, other dub mixers like Prince Jammy and Philip Smart also worked on Lee's productions.

Reusing Rhythm Tracks

Bunny Lee was one of the first producers to reuse the same rhythm tracks. He would have different singers and deejays record new songs over the same beat. This was partly because he didn't own his own studio. He had to make the most of the studio time he paid for.

In the late 1970s, Lee worked with new Jamaican talents. These included Linval Thompson, Leroy Smart, and Barry Brown.

Deejay Productions

By 1977, other studios became very popular. However, Bunny Lee still produced many deejays. He worked with famous names like Dennis Alcapone, U-Roy, I-Roy, and Prince Jazzbo. These were often quick recordings, usually using classic Studio One or Treasure Isle riddims (rhythm tracks). The goal was to get new deejay songs out quickly.

In the early 1980s, Lee bought a studio and continued producing. In 1983, he produced the first album for a future star, Beenie Man. The album was called The Invincible Beany Man (The 10 Year Old D.J. Wonder).

In March 2015, a fire at Lee's Gorgon Entertainment Studio destroyed valuable equipment.

Recognition for Bunny Lee

Bunny Lee's work was recognized in many ways.

• In 1982, a TV show called Deep Roots on Channel 4 featured him. It showed him producing dub music with Prince Jammy.
• In 2008, the Jamaican Government gave him the Order of Distinction. This award honored his important contributions to Jamaican music.
• In 2013, a documentary film was released about his life. It was called I Am The Gorgon – Bunny 'Striker' Lee and the Roots of Reggae. The film told his life story and featured many artists he worked with.

Bunny Lee's Family

Bunny Lee had a son named Errol Lee, born in 1968, with singer Marlene Webber. Errol was involved in a non-profit group that helped young people through music. At the time of his death, Bunny Lee was married to Annette Wong-Lee. They had four children together: two sons, Edward Jr. and Kirk, and two daughters, Toni Ann and Bonnie Lee.

Death

Bunny Lee passed away on October 6, 2020, at the age of 79. He died from heart failure.