Will Lee (bassist)

American bassist (born - September 8th 1952)

Will Lee
Born	1952 (age 71–72)
Genres	Jazz, rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Bass, vocals
Years active	1973–present

Website	www.willlee.com

Musical artist

Will Lee is an American bassist known for his work on the Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra and “The World's Most Dangerous Band" during Letterman’s tenure as host of NBC’s "Late Night".^[1]

Lee has recorded and toured with many artists. He appeared on the Mark & Clark Band's hit record Worn Down Piano. He performs with his Beatles tribute band, The Fab Faux,^[2] which he co-founded in 1998.^[3]

Career

Beginnings in music

Lee was greatly influenced to pursue music because of his parents. His father, William Franklin Lee III played piano, trumpet and the upright bass professionally. Lee's mother Lois sang with big bands. Lee took up drums after seeing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, and by the time he was 12 had formed his first band in Miami. The band members each earned $6 a night playing the popular surfing tunes characteristic of the 60s. With the great numbers of drummers in Miami, Lee shifted to bass, an instrument that offered more opportunities. Lee was part of a succession of bands including top 40 bands with names like "Chances R" "The Loving Kind", and "Green Cloud."

Lee studied French horn for a year and then switched to a bass major. After classes, he worked on bass fundamentals listening to not only the Beatles, but also Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Miller, The Rascals, Motown, Sly & the Family Stone, among others. He would put it all into practice six sets a night playing with various local bands, including a horn band called "Goldrush."

Professional music career

Lee then went to New York City. Trumpeter Randy Brecker called Lee out of class one day and invited him to audition for jazz-rock group Dreams. He won the part and played on the album Imagine My Surprise as a bassist and vocalist. After Dreams disbanded, Lee's career as a session musician flourished, and he toured with many artists. Lee played in the New York "24th Street Band" which had great success in Japan, giving him a solo artist career that yielded him a top 5 single. Most recently, his solo CD entitled OH! reached the #1 position on the "Jazz Beyond" chart there. On January 20, 2016 Lee played bass with Christopher Cross at the Moody Theater in Austin, TX at a taping for Austin City Limits.

The CBS Orchestra

In 1982, Lee became one of the original members of The World's Most Dangerous Band, the house band on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman. He holds the distinction of playing with Paul Shaffer, on both Late Night and the Late Show, longer than any other member of the CBS Orchestra.^[4] Before the Late Show began taping, he often tossed out guitar picks to the audience as souvenirs. On the May 13, 2015 episode of the Late Show with David Letterman, as Letterman was interviewing Paul Shaffer, Shaffer gave recognition to the members of his band, and lastly mentioned Lee as the "man has been with us on bass since the first night we were on Late Night, Will Lee."

Awards and honors

NARAS MVP Award for bass guitar, 1979, 1982, 1985–1987
NARAS MVP Award for male session singer, 1987
NARAS MVP Virtuoso Award for bass guitar, 1989
Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Some Skunk Funk, with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Jim Beard, Vince Mendoza, Marcio Doctor, and the WDR Big Band, 2006
Inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014^[5]

Basses

Lee uses the Sadowsky Will Lee model, 4 and 5-string Fender Jazz-style basses with a narrower nut width of 1.45" [37mm] instead of the usual 1.5" [38mm], 22 frets and a Hipshot D-tuner. This is the only instrument offered by Sadowsky that has a midrange control, an on-off toggle switch selectable between 500hz and 800hz. The bass was built for him by Roger Sadowsky and has now become a production model within the line of Sadowsky basses.^[6]

Discography

OH! (1993)
Birdhouse (2006)^[7]
Love, Gratitude and Other Distractions (2013)^[8]

As sideman

With Alessi Brothers

All For a Reason (A&M, 1977)

With Peter Allen

I Could Have Been a Sailor (A&M Records, 1979)

With Joan Armatrading

Me Myself I (A&M Records, 1980)

With Patti Austin

End of a Rainbow (CTI, 1976)
Havana Candy (CTI, 1977)
Body Language (CTI, 1980)
In My Life (CTI, 1983)

With Aztec Camera

Love (Sire, 1987)

With Carole Bayer Sager

Carole Bayer Sager (Elektra Records, 1977)

With Joe Beck

Beck (Kudu, 1975)

With Bee Gees

E.S.P. (Warner Bros., 1987)

With George Benson

Benson & Farrell with Joe Farrell (CTI, 1976)
Livin' Inside Your Love (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)
In Your Eyes (Warner Bros. Records, 1983)
Love Remembers (Warner Bros. Records, 1993)

With Michael Bolton

The Hunger (Columbia Records, 1987)

With The Brecker Brothers

The Brecker Bros. (Arista, 1975)
Back to Back (Arista, 1976)
Don't Stop the Music (Arista, 1977)
Return of the Brecker Brothers (GRP, 1992)

With Dan Brenner

Little Dark Angel (2011)

With Hiram Bullock

From All Sides (Atlantic, 1986)
Give It What U Got (Atlantic, 1987)
Way Kool (Atlantic, 1992)
World of Collision (Big World, 1994)
Manny's Car Wash (Big World, 1996)
First Class Vagabond (JVC Victor, 2000)
Guitarman (JVC Victor, 2000)
Color Me (Via, 2001)
Best of Hiram Bullock (WEA, 2002)
Try Livin' It (EFA, 2003)
Too Funky 2 Ignore (BHM, 2006)

With Gary Burton

Reunion (GRP, 1990)
Cool Nights (GRP, 1991)
Six Pack (GRP, 1992)

With Peabo Bryson

Take No Prisoners (Elektra Records, 1985)

With Irene Cara

Anyone Can See (Elektra Records, 1982)
What a Feelin' (Epic Records, 1983)

With Mariah Carey

Emotions (Columbia, 1991)

With Felix Cavaliere

Destiny (Bearsville, 1975)
Castles in the Air (Epic, 1979)

With Beth Nielsen Chapman

You Hold the Key (Reprise Records, 1993)

With Cher

Take Me Home (Casablanca Records, 1979)
Cher (Geffen Records, 1987)

With Clarence Clemons

A Night With Mr. C (CBS Records, 1989)

With Jimmy Cliff

Give Thankx (Warner Bros. Records, 1978)

With Linda Clifford

I'll Keep on Loving You (Capitol Records, 1982)

With Natalie Cole

Snowfall on the Sahara (Elektra Records, 1999)

With Judy Collins

Fires of Eden (Columbia, 1990)

With Randy Crawford

Raw Slik (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)

With Peter Criss

One for All (Megaforce, 2007)

With Christopher Cross

Secret Ladder (Christopher Cross Records, 2014)
Take Me As I Am (Christopher Cross Records, 2017)

With D'Angelo

Brown Sugar (EMI, 1995)

With Sheena Easton

What Comes Naturally (MCA Records, 1991)

With Donald Fagen

The Nightfly (Warner Bros. 1982)

With Art Farmer

Crawl Space (CTI, 1977)
Yama with Joe Henderson (CTI, 1979)

With Roberta Flack

Blue Lights in the Basement (Atlantic Records, 1977)

With Michael Franks

Burchfield Nines (Warner Bros. Records, 1978)
Objects of Desire (Warner Bros. Records, 1982)
Passionfruit (Warner Bros. Records, 1983)
Skin Dive (Warner Bros. Records, 1985)
The Camera Never Lies (Warner Bros. Records, 1987)
Barefoot on the Beach (Windham Hill Records, 1999)
Time Together (Shanachie Records, 2011)

With Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway

Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (Arista Records, 1980)

With Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley (Casablanca, 1978)

With Steve Goodman

Say It in Private (Asylum Records, 1977)

With Lawrence Gowan

Great Dirty World (Columbia Records, 1987)

With Al Green

Don't Look Back (BMG, 1993)
Your Heart's in Good Hands (MCA, 1995)

With Henry Gross

Show Me to the Stage (Lifesong, 1977)
Love Is the Stuff (Lifesong, 1978)

With Arlo Guthrie

Hobo's Lullaby (Reprise Records, 1972)

With Spyro Gyra

Morning Dance (1979)
Catching the Sun (1980)
Carnaval (1980)
Free Time (1981)
Incognito (1982)

With Major Harris

How Do You Take Your Love (RCA Records, 1978)

With Cissy Houston

Cissy Houston (Private Stock Records, 1977)
Step Aside for a Lady (Columbia Records, 1980)
Face to Face (BMG, 1996)

With Janis Ian

Janis Ian (Columbia Records, 1978)

With Chaka Khan

Chaka (Atlantic, 1978)
Chaka Khan (Warner Bros., 1982)

With Kool & the Gang

In the Heart (De-Lite, 1983)

With Yusef Lateef

In a Temple Garden (CTI, 1979)

With Lori Lieberman

Letting Go (Millennium Records, 1978)

With Fred Lipsius

Better Believe It (Mja Records, 1996)^[9]^[10]

With Steve Lukather

Lukather (Columbia Records, 1989)

With Delbert McClinton

Never Been Rocked Enough (Curb, 1992)

With Taj Mahal

Evolution (The Most Recent) (Warner Bros., 1978)

With Melissa Manchester

Singin'... (Arista Records, 1977)
Emergency (Arista Records, 1983)
If My Heart Had Wings (Atlantic Records, 1995)

With Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow II (Arista Records, 1974)
This One's For You (Arista Records, 1976)
Even Now (Arista Records, 1978)
One Voice (Arista Records, 1979)
Barry (Arista Records, 1980)
If I Should Love Again (Arista Records, 1981)
Manilow (RCA Records, 1985)

With Herbie Mann

Waterbed (Atlantic, 1975)

With Meco

Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk (Millennium Records, 1977)

With Glenn Medeiros

It's Alright to Love (Mercury Records, 1993)

With Melanie

Phonogenic – Not Just Another Pretty Face (Midsong International, 1978)

With Bette Midler

Bette Midler (Atlantic Records, 1973)
Thighs and Whispers (Atlantic Records, 1979)

With Liza Minnelli

Gently (Angel Records, 1996)

With Tim Moore

Behind the Eyes (Asylum, 1975)

With Kenny Nolan

A Song Between Us (Polydor, 1978)

With Laura Nyro

Smile (Columbia Records, 1976)
Nested (Columbia Records, 1978)

With Odyssey

Odyssey (RCA Victor, 1977)

With Leslie Pearl

Words & Music (RCA, 1982)

With Esther Phillips

You've Come a Long Way, Baby (Mercury, 1977)

With Nicole Renée

Nicole Renée (Atlantic Records, 1998)

With Vicki Sue Robinson

Half & Half (RCA Victor, 1978)
Movin' On (RCA Victor, 1979)

With Diana Ross

I Love You (Parlophone Records, 2006)

With David Sanborn

Taking Off (Warner Bros. Records, 1975)

With Leo Sayer

World Radio (Chrysalis Records, 1982)
Have You Ever Been in Love (Chrysalis Records, 1983)

With Lalo Schifrin

Towering Toccata (CTI, 1976)

With Helen Schneider

So Close (Windsong, 1976)

With Diane Schuur

Talkin' 'bout You (GPR, 1988)

With Don Sebesky

The Rape of El Morro (CTI, 1975)

With Neil Sedaka

A Song (Elektra Records, 1977)

With Janis Siegel

At Home (Atlantic Records, 1987)

With Nina Simone

Baltimore (CTI, 1978)

With Carly Simon

Boys in the Trees (Elektra Records, 1978)
Spy (Elektra Records, 1979)
Come Upstairs (Warner Bros. Records, 1980)
Torch (Warner Bros. Records, 1981)
My Romance (Arista Records, 1990)
Have You Seen Me Lately (Arista Records, 1990)

With Phoebe Snow

Second Childhood (Columbia Records, 1976)
Never Letting Go (Columbia Records, 1977)
Against the Grain (Columbia Records, 1978)

With Bert Sommer

Bert Sommer (Capitol, 1977)

With Dusty Springfield

Living Without Your Love (Mercury Records, 1979)

With Ringo Starr

Ringo's Rotogravure (Polydor Records, 1976)

With Steely Dan

Two Against Nature (Giant, 2000)

With Mike Stern

Is What It Is (Atlantic, 1994)
These Times (ESC, 2004)
All Over the Place (Heads Up, 2012)

With Cat Stevens

Back to Earth (Island Records, 1978)

With Barbra Streisand

Songbird (Columbia Records, 1978)
Wet (Columbia Records, 1979)

With The Manhattan Transfer

Tonin' (Atlantic Records, 1995)

With Bonnie Tyler

Faster Than the Speed of Night (Columbia Records, 1983)

With Frankie Valli

Romantic the 60's (Universal Motown, 2007)

With Narada Michael Walden

Garden of Love Light (Arista, 1976)

With Dionne Warwick

Dionne (Arista Records, 1979)
Friends Can Be Lovers (Arista Records, 1993)

With Vanessa Williams

Star Bright (Mercury, 1996)
Next (Mercury, 1997)

References

^ Bonacich, Drago. "Biography: Will Lee". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
^ Kahn, Ashley (2008-01-24). "Rebuilding The Beatles, Note by Note". NPR. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
^ Corrigan, John (2013-10-08). "Fab Faux don't look like the Beatles, but they do sound like them". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
^ Orr, John (2010-02-18). "Will Lee: Happy just to play for you". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
^ Paulson, Dave (2014-01-28). "Musicians Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees with concert, ceremony". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
^ "Sadowsky Guitars | Will Lee Model". Sadowsky.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
^ Fordham, John (2006-07-27). "Will Lee, Bird House". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
^ Fricke, David (2013-11-01). "Will Lee 'Love, Gratitude and Other Distractions' Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
^ "Better Believe It - Fred Lipsius | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
^ Grey, Hilarie (25 April 2019). "Fred Lipsius: Better Believe It". JazzTimes.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.