Don Lee (musician)
Don Lee | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donald Lee Tunison |
| Born | 25 Aug 1941 Dexter, Kansas, United States |
| Died | (aged 54) Valencia, California |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1950s–1990s |
| Labels | Crescent, Crown Records, Custom Records, Album Concepts |
Don Lee was an American country singer, song writer, producer and guitarist who recorded in the 1960s and 1970s. He had a hit on the country charts with "16 Lovin' Ounces to the Pound". He also wrote a couple more songs that became hits. One became a hit for Jerry Naylor.
Background
[edit]In addition to his country music background, he was a guitarist who also had a rock background.[citation needed] He recorded material in the 1960s that was released on two albums.[1] Years later his album Keepin' It Country was released. There is speculation that he also had a connection to The Champs of "Tequila fame as well as being a member of Don Rich's group The Buckaroos.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]1960s to 1970s
[edit]Between 1967 and 1969, Lee had two albums released on the Custom and Crown labels. They were Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife and True Grit (And Other Pop Country Favorites).[2] He also released an album during the 1960s, I Love You So Much It Hurts And Other Country And Western Favorites under the pseudonym of Terry Lee.[3]
In October, 1974, Lee was appearing at the Country Western Jubilee festival which was held outside Los Angeles at Devonshire Downs between the 11th and 13th.[4] Two months later in December, a song he co-wrote with Robert L. Duncan, "Is This All There Is To A Honky Tonk"[5] and recorded by Jerry Naylor was released on a single. Backed with "You're The One" it was released on Melodyland 6003.[6][7] The song spent ten weeks on the Country charts, peaking at #31 on March 29, 1975.[8] In 1976, a song he co-wrote with Lloyd Goodson, "Jesus is the Same in California" was released on United Artists UA-XW891-Y. It became a hit for Goodson. Spending six weeks in the charts, it peaked at #80 on November 12, 1976.[9][10]
1980s
[edit]In 1981, his own single "I'm In Love With A Memory" bw "Cowley County" was released on Crescent 101. It was co-written with George R. White.[11][12] By July 1982, his song "16 Lovin' Ounces To The Pound" was released. It was produced by Lee himself and co-written with B. Duncan, B. R. Jones and J. R. Halper.[13] It stayed on the charts for three weeks peaking at #86 on September 18, 1982.[14]
Death
[edit]Lee died on December 8, 1995, at age 54.[15]
Compositions
[edit]| Composition | Artist | Release | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Is This All There Is To A Honky Tonk" | Jerry Naylor | "Is This All there is to a Honky Tonk" / "You're The One" | Melodyland 6003 | 1974 | [16][17][18] |
| "Dallas Champagne" "The Man That Fronts The Bandstand" |
Bobby Wyld | "Dallas Champagne" /"The Man That Fronts The Bandstand" | Wytra WY 1002 | 1975 | [19][20] |
| "The Beartrap" "I'm Gonna Miss Me (In Your Arms Tonight" |
Tex Williams | "The Beartrap" / "I'm Gonna Miss Me (In Your Arms Tonight)" | Denim 1005 | 1975 | [21][22] |
| "The More She Thinks About Him" | C. L. Goodson | "18 Yellow Roses" / "The More She Thinks About Him" | Island IS 1030-A / B | 1975 | [23] * [citation needed] |
| "Jesus is the Same in California" | Lloyd Goodson | "Jesus Is The Same In California" / "Wearin' Out The Patches On My Knees" | United Artists UA-XW891-Y | 1976 | [24][25][26] |
| "I'm in Love with a Memory" "Cowley County" |
Don Lee | "I'm in Love with a Memory" / "Cowley County" | Crescent Records 101 | 1981 | |
| "16 Lovin' Ounces to the Pound" "All I Ever Wanted Was You (Here Lovin' Me)" |
Don Lee | "16 Lovin' Ounces to the Pound"/ "All I Ever Wanted Was You (Here Lovin' Me)" | Crescent Records 103 | 1982 | [27] |
Discography
[edit]| Act | Release | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Lee | "I Found a Way" / "Time Will Stand Still" | ARCO Records 6607 | 196? | [citation needed] |
| Don Lee | "The Heaven We Shared" / "West Memphis Arkansas" | Newhall Records N 7105 | 197? | [28] |
| Don Lee | "I'm In Love With A Memory" / "Cowley County" | Crescent Records 101 | 1981 | |
| Don Lee | "16 Lovin' Ounces to the Pound" / "All I Ever Wanted Was You (Here Lovin' Me)" | Crescent Records 103 | 1982 | [29] |
| Don Lee Billy Lee Riley |
"I Found a Way" / "St. James Infirmary" | FTM LTD DJ AVA 2014 | 2014 | Re-release B. side is Billy Lee Riley [citation needed] |
| Act | Release | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Lee | I Love You So Much It Hurts And Other Country And Western Favorites | Crown CST 558 | 196? | [30] |
| Don Lee | Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife | Custom CS 1126 | 1967 | |
| Don Lee | True Grit (And Other Pop Country Favorites) | Crown Records CST 593 | 1969 | [31] |
| Don Lee | Keepin' It Country | Album Concepts 4023 | [32] |
References
[edit]- ^ Praguefrank's Country Discography - Don Lee
- ^ Praguefrank's Country Discography - Don Lee
- ^ Discogs - Terry Lee (25), Discography
- ^ Billboard, October 12, 1974 - Page 40 Country, 3000 Miles Apart, Major Country Fests Set
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series
Volume 28, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2
Music
Current and Renewal Registrations
July–December 1974 - Page 3992 - ^ Billboard, December 26, 1974 - Page 46 Billboards's Top Single Picks, Country, recommended
- ^ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Melodyland/Hitsville Records
- ^ Billboard - HOT COUNTRY SONGS, The week of March 29, 1975
- ^ 45Cat - Lloyd Goodson - Discography, USA
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles, 1944-1988, Joel Whitburn - LLOYD GOODSON
- ^ 45Cat - Don Lee (Crescent) - Discography
- ^ Copyright Encyclopedia - I'm in love with a memory
- ^ Billboard Magazine, July 31, 1982 - Page 51 Billboards's Top Single Picks, Country, recommended
- ^ Billboard - Don Lee, Chart History, 16 Lovin' Ounces To The Pound
- ^ Find A Grave - Donald Lee Tunison
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series
Volume 28, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2
Music
Current and Renewal Registrations
July–December 1974 - Page 3992 - ^ Billboard, December 26, 1974 - Page 46 Billboards's Top Single Picks, Country, recommended
- ^ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Melodyland/Hitsville Records
- ^ 45Cat - Bobby Wyld (country) - Discography
- ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office.. Catalog of Copyright Entries 1975 Music Jan-June 3D Ser Vol 29 Pt 5
Sec 2 (Volume Catalog of Copyright Entries 3D Ser Vol 29 Pt 5 Sec 2) online - (page 92 of 360), JUN. 1975, EU516728. - ^ 45cAT - Tex Williams - Discography, USA Page 2
- ^ Cash Box, November 27, 1976 - Page 27 CountrySinglesReviews ~ AlbumReviews
- ^ 45Cat - C. L. Goodson - Discography, Canada
- ^ 45Cat - Lloyd Goodson - Discography, USA
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles, 1944-1988, Joel Whitburn - LLOYD GOODSON
- ^ Cash Box, November 27, 1976 - Page 27 CountrySinglesReviews ~ AlbumReviews
- ^ 45Cat - Crescent (Beverly Hills, California) - Label Discography, USA
- ^ Discogs - Don Lee
- ^ 45Cat - Crescent (Beverly Hills, California) - Label Discography, USA
- ^ Discogs - Terry Lee (25), Discography
- ^ Praguefrank's Country Discography - Don Lee
- ^ Discogs - Don Lee, Discography