George E. Lee

George E. Lee, born April 26, 1896 in Booneville, MO, died c. Oct 1958 in San Diego. He was a pianist, singer, and baritone saxophonist, who learned music in the United States Army during World War I and returned from military service to Kansas City, organized a band, and became nationally prominent in the entertainment field. George E. Lee's first band played regularly at the Lyric Hall at 18th and Lydia in the heart of Kansas City's Harlem section. His sister Julia Lee was on piano, and sang. Bruce Redd was the drummer, and Lee himself "sent" the musicians who came around to hear him by slap-tonguing a huge baritone sax.