Bill Lee

William James Edwards Lee (July 23, 1928 – May 24, 2023) was an American musician and the father of filmmakers Spike Lee and Joie Lee. He composed original music for several 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 also associated with the Strata-East jazz record label, where he directed the 1980 album *The New York Bass Violin Choir*.

Lee played bass for a wide range of 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 recording of Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," Lee was the only musician accompanying Dylan. Similarly, on Gordon Lightfoot's "Oh, Linda" (recorded in 1964), Lee was the sole instrumentalist besides Lightfoot's voice.