Charles Freeman Lee facts for kids
Charles Freeman Lee (born August 13, 1927 – died June 15, 1997) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known for playing the trumpet and recording music with famous jazz groups. Some of the musicians he worked with include the Elmo Hope Quintet, Bennie Green, Babs Gonzales, and Howard McGhee.
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Early Life and Education
Charles Freeman Lee was born in New York City. His parents were Louella Simpson Lee and Charles Henry Lee. He went to Wilberforce University and played music with a group called the Wilberforce Collegians. He later graduated from Central State University with a degree in Biology.
Starting His Music Career
Freeman Lee started playing music in 1950. He first played the piano with Snooky Young. In 1951, he switched to the trumpet and played with Candy Johnson. The next year, 1952, he played trumpet with Sonny Stitt and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis.
In 1953, Lee performed with Joe Holiday. For two years, 1954 and 1955, he worked as a freelance musician in New York City. This means he played with different groups as needed. In 1956, he played with James Moody. After spending a year in Ohio, he came back to New York City. He played at famous jazz clubs like Birdland, playing both piano and trumpet. He also performed with Babs Gonzales.
Professional Music Career
Freeman Lee was the trumpeter for the Elmo Hope quintet. Other members of this group included Elmo Hope on piano, Frank Foster on tenor saxophone, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. Lee played on their albums like Elmo Hope Quintet, Volume 2 (1952) and Hope Meets Foster (1955).
Lee also wrote a song called "My Delight." This song was featured on the album Shades of Blue by Howard McGhee.
He was part of a singing group called "The Modern Sounds." They sang on two songs, "Movin' and Groovin'" and "The Doomed," for Babs Gonzales' album Voila the Preacher.
Lee was also a composer for the album Bennie Green Swings the Blues. He worked alongside other musicians like Bennie Green on trombone, Sonny Clark on piano, and Jimmy Forrest on tenor saxophone.
In 2017, a book about Freeman Lee's life was published. It is called “A Jazzman’s Tale” and was written by Annette Johnson. She was inspired to write the book after meeting Lee later in his life.
Life After Music
After his career as a jazz trumpeter, Freeman Lee became a science educator. He taught at Krueger Junior High School in Michigan City, Indiana. He was known for inspiring his students greatly. He never married or had children. He was buried in Xenia, Ohio.
Key Recordings
- 1954: Elmo Hope Quintet (New Faces-New Sounds, Vol. 2) with the Elmo Hope Quintet (Trumpet)
- 1955: Hope Meets Foster with Elmo Hope and Frank Foster (Trumpet)
- 1957: Trio and Quintet with Elmo Hope (Trumpet)
- 1958: Voila the Preacher by Babs Gonzales (Vocals, as part of The Modern Sounds)
- 1973: Shades Of Blue by Howard McGhee (Writing and Arrangement for "My Delight")
- 2004: Swings the Blues by Bennie Green (Composer)
