Floyd Lee facts for kids

Floyd Lee, also known as Theodore Williams (born August 20, 1933 – died June 7, 2020), was an American blues musician. He was born in Mississippi and traveled across the United States. In 1972, he made New York his home.

Floyd Lee became famous for playing blues music with great feeling. He often performed in and around New York's subway stations for nearly 30 years. Later in his life, he recorded four albums and went on tours. One of his well-known songs was "Mean Blues."

The Early Life of Floyd Lee

Floyd Lee was born in Lamar, Mississippi, United States. He was raised by relatives from a very young age. As he grew up, Floyd helped with farm work, like picking cotton, during the warmer months. In the winter, he went to school in Memphis, Tennessee.

Floyd was inspired to play the guitar by his 'father', Guitar Floyd, and a neighbor named Guitar Slim. He also heard his 'mother' singing while they worked in the cotton fields and at home. When he was about ten years old, Floyd moved to live with relatives in Chicago, Illinois.

Later, he moved with these relatives to Cleveland, Ohio. There, he sold newspapers and worked as a batboy for the Cleveland Indians baseball team.

Becoming a Musician

As a teenager, Floyd Lee started performing at "rent parties." These were parties where people paid a small fee to help the host pay their rent. He once met and played guitar with the famous blues musician Jimmy Reed.

Floyd then traveled and performed in many cities, including Chicago, Michigan, Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio. Finally, in 1972, he settled in Harlem, New York. He quickly became a part of New York's music scene. He began performing in train stations, clubs, and street festivals.

Floyd Lee was one of the first members of Music Under New York (MUNY). This program helps musicians perform officially in public spaces. He later became a judge for their board. For almost 30 years, he regularly played blues music at subway stations like Times Square and Grand Central Station as an official MUNY musician.

Later Career and Achievements

Besides music, Floyd Lee also worked as a doorman for 27 years at the Normandy Apartments in Manhattan, New York. He retired from this job in 1996. In 1990, he performed at the inauguration of David Dinkins as Mayor of New York City. Nelson Mandela, a famous leader, was also there.

Some people said Floyd Lee was a cousin of the legendary blues artist John Lee Hooker. He also performed with other well-known musicians like Wilson Pickett and Bo Diddley.

Even though he was best known for his street performances in New York, Floyd Lee also recorded four albums in the 2000s. He released these albums on the Amogla Records label. He also toured a lot, performing at music festivals in France, Switzerland, Japan, North Korea, and Russia. He also toured all across the United States.

In 2008, a documentary film called Full Moon Lightnin' was made about Floyd Lee. The film showed him reconnecting with his family in Mississippi after 60 years. John C. Gardiner edited, directed, and produced the film. It won the Living Blues Award in 2009 for Best Blues Documentary. A guitarist and songwriter named Joel Poluck helped Floyd with the film and a music album called The Amogla Sessions.

Death

Floyd Lee passed away on June 7, 2020. He was 86 years old and died in Columbus, Ohio, due to heart failure.

Albums discography

See also

• List of musicians from Mississippi