
Sound
Bill Lee
EN cinema · 8 credits
Born
23 July 1928
Died
24 May 2023 (aged 94)
Birthplace
Snow Hill, Alabama, USA
Also known as William Lee
William James Edwards Lee (July 23, 1928 – May 24, 2023) was an American musician. He was the father of Spike Lee and Joie Lee. He composed original music for many of his son's films, including She's Gotta Have It (1986), School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), and Mo' Better Blues (1990). Lee was involved in many releases from the Strata-East jazz record label, including directing the 1980 album The New York Bass Violin Choir. Lee played the bass for many artists, including Chris Anderson, Cat Stevens, Harry Belafonte, Chad Mitchell Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, Aretha Franklin, Odetta, Simon and Garfunkel, Ian & Sylvia, Tom Rush, Burt Bacharach, Peter, Paul and Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Paxton, Carolyn Hester, John Lee Hooker, Josh White, Duke Ellington, Malvina Reynolds, Eric Bibb, The Clancy Brothers, and Bob Dylan. On the original release of Dylan's classic song "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," Lee, on bass guitar, is the only musician performing other than Dylan himself. On Gordon Lightfoot's song Oh, Linda (recorded 1964), Lee is also the only musician other than Lightfoot's voice. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bill Lee (musician), licensed under CC BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Filmography

Never Met Picasso
Original Music Composer

Rage of Vengeance
as Restaurant Owner

Mo' Better Blues
as Father of the Bride, Original Music Composer

Do the Right Thing
Original Music Composer

School Daze
as Phil Hyman Quartet - Bass, Original Music Composer

Window on Your Present
Original Music Composer

She's Gotta Have It
as Sonny Darling, Original Music Composer

Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads
Original Music Composer

