Larry Lee (musician) facts for kids

Larry Lee (born March 7, 1943, died October 30, 2007) was an American guitarist and songwriter. He came from Memphis, Tennessee. Larry Lee was famous for playing with music legends like Al Green and Jimi Hendrix.

Playing with Jimi Hendrix

Larry Lee was a longtime friend of Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox. They had all played music together in different rhythm and blues (R&B) groups. In 1969, Lee joined Hendrix's new band, called Gypsy Sun and Rainbows.

Lee played rhythm guitar in the band. Sometimes, he would also play lead guitar, switching with Hendrix. This new band was chosen to perform at the famous Woodstock Music Festival. Hendrix was already set to play there with his previous band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Lee had just returned from the Vietnam War. He had been back for only two weeks and didn't have a job. Hendrix called him, and Lee joined Gypsy Sun and Rainbows just one week before the big Woodstock concert.

Woodstock Performance

At the Woodstock concert, both Hendrix and Lee wore white clothes. They also wore interesting headgear. Lee wore a special green bandana with long tassels that hung over his eyes. He thought this made him look unique. Billy Cox wore a colorful turban, and Hendrix had a bright pink bandana.

Lee played a 1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar. He sang his own song called "Master Mind." He also sang two songs by The Impressions, "Gypsy Woman" and "Aware of Love," as a medley. Hendrix played backup guitar in the style of Curtis Mayfield. Lee also played several guitar solos and traded lead parts with Hendrix.

After Woodstock, this group continued to help Hendrix create his new music style. This included his first "message" songs. In these songs, Hendrix shared his thoughts on the Vietnam War and human relationships. Some of these songs were Machine Gun, Message to Love, and Izabella.

The group also played at a benefit concert in Harlem. Later, they performed at a small club called "Salvation" in Greenwich Village. After these shows, Lee, Velez, and Sultan went back to their own music careers.

Working with Al Green

In the 1970s, Larry Lee became the band director and lead guitarist for Al Green's touring band. He appeared on TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with Green. He also performed with Green on TV specials around the world.

Lee was also a songwriter. He wrote songs for early recording artists at Stax Records, like the Astors. A song he wrote called "Judy" was covered by Al Green and the Spidells. Lee had written "Judy" when he was playing with Hendrix in Nashville.

Lee also briefly toured with the famous blues musician Albert King. Lee said that King fired him because his guitar playing was so good it sometimes took attention away from King.

Later Music Projects

In the 1980s and 1990s, Lee worked with his friend, Timothy Lee Matthews. They worked together on Matthews' CD called Songs for the Greats. Matthews, who helped write the classic blues song "Breaking Up Somebody's Home," called Lee a perfect sideman. You can hear Lee's unique rhythm and lead guitar style on nine of the eleven songs on Matthews' CD.

Larry Lee lived in Memphis, Tennessee. He played in a regional rock, blues, and R&B band called Elmo and the Shades. Lee was a member of this band for eight years. He was a big part of their success during that time. The band was very popular, playing in nightclubs, casinos, and at blues festivals.

Lee is featured on three songs on Elmo and The Shades' 2009 CD, Blue Memphis. These songs are "Same Old Dog," "I Get the Blues for Free," and the title song "Blue Memphis." Lee left the group in August 2006 due to health challenges. Larry Lee was known as a soulful blues singer and an amazing blues guitarist.

Lee also sometimes played with Mike Strickland and the Usual Unusual Clowns.

Larry Lee's Passing

Larry Lee passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 29, 2007. He had been dealing with stomach cancer for about a year. He was buried on November 6 at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.

He was survived by his wife, Carrie Lee, and his daughter, April D. Lee. He also had three sons: Lawrence H. Lee III, Robert A. Lee, and Thomas Lee. His mother, Lula Lee, and five grandchildren also survived him.

Music Larry Lee Played On

Here are some of the albums Larry Lee played on:

with Jimi Hendrix

• Nine to the Universe (1980)
• Woodstock (1994)
• Live at Woodstock (1999)

with Al Green

• I'll Rise Again (1983)

with Timothy Lee Matthews

• Songs For The Greats (1998) (featured on track 4 "What Did She Say")

with Elmo and the Shades

• Blue Memphis (2009)