Julia Lee

Julia Lee, Queen of Dirty Blues, Blues, double-entendre, sex, marijuana, 1940s, George E. Lee and His Novelty Singing Orchestra, Bennie Moten, Charlie Parker, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Negro Leagues, Kansas City Monarchs, Milton’s Tap Room, Frank Duncan, Capitol Records

 

 

“The Queen of Dirty Blues”

 

To understand Julia Lee and the wit behind her music, it might help to start with a little “vocabulary” lesson.

 

1) Double Entendre: this term is dictionary-defined as “a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.” The phrase was applied to music, as well, specifically during the 1940s and even more specifically, to our dear Julia Lee’s musical style…

 

2) …called the Dirty Blues. This was an offshoot of the classic blues style that focused on the no-nos (particularly taboo things during the 40s) such as drugs and – gasp! – sex. Dirty Blues was actually forbidden on radio stations. They were “the songs,” said Julia famously, “that my mother taught me not to sing.”

 

Julia grew up in Kansas City, Mo., with her parents and her also-acclaimed musician brother George Lee – the siblings played together in his George E. Lee and His Novelty Singing Orchestra, the biggest competition ‘round town for the legendary Bennie Moten and his orchestra. The Kansas City native and alto sax prodigy Charlie Parker accompanied the Lees and the Novelty Singing Orchestra for a time. Continuing with her brother’s orchestra, Julia scored a solo gig at Milton’s Tap Room on Main Street. She also married the one-and-only Frank Duncan, Kansas Citian and starting star catcher of the Negro League’s Kansas City Monarchs. He played alongside other greats like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson, later becoming the team’s manager.

 

 

It was in 1944 that Julia Lee signed with the label Capitol Records, releasing hit after sassy hit song and candidly (or double-entendre-ly) crooning about sex and marijuana and maybe-possibly a penis, with that trademark humorous touch of hers.

 

The spitfire musician led a long, successful and slightly notorious career. She continued to perform whenever she could, but Julia Lee, one of the most renowned and acclaimed artists of her genre, died of heart disease in Kansas City at age 56.

 

All hail the Queen.