Don Lee (musician)

Last updated
Don Lee
Birth nameDonald Lee Tunison
Born25 Aug 1941
Dexter, Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Died8 Dec 1995 (aged 54)
Genres Country
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1950s to 1990s
LabelsCrescent, Crown Records, Custom Records, Album Concepts

Don Lee was a 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.

Contents

Background

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

1960s to 1970s

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

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

Lee died on December 8, 1995 at age 54. [15]

Compositions

CompositionArtistReleaseCatalogueYearNotes #
"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 60031974 [16] [17] [18]
"Dallas Champagne"
"The Man That Fronts The Bandstand"		Bobby Wyld"Dallas Champagne" /"The Man That Fronts The Bandstand"Wytra WY 10021975 [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 10051975 [21] [22]
"The More She Thinks About Him" C. L. Goodson "18 Yellow Roses" / "The More She Thinks About Him" Island IS 1030-A / B1975 [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-Y1976 [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 1011981
"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 1031982 [27]

Discography

Singles
ActReleaseCatalogueYearNotes #
Don Lee"I Found a Way" / "Time Will Stand Still"ARCO Records 6607196?[ citation needed ]
Don Lee"The Heaven We Shared" / "West Memphis Arkansas"Newhall Records N 7105197? [28]
Don Lee"I'm In Love With A Memory" / "Cowley County"Crescent Records 1011981
Don Lee"16 Lovin' Ounces to the Pound" / "All I Ever Wanted Was You (Here Lovin' Me)"Crescent Records 1031982 [29]
Don Lee
Billy Lee Riley 		"I Found a Way" / "St. James Infirmary"FTM LTD DJ AVA 20142014Re-release
B. side is Billy Lee Riley [ citation needed ]
Albums
ActReleaseCatalogueYearNotes #
Terry LeeI Love You So Much It Hurts And Other Country And Western Favorites Crown CST 558196? [30]
Don LeeDreams Of The Everyday Housewife Custom CS 11261967
Don LeeTrue Grit (And Other Pop Country Favorites)Crown Records CST 5931969 [31]
Don LeeKeepin' It CountryAlbum Concepts 4023 [32]

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References

  1. ↑ Praguefrank's Country Discography - Don Lee
  2. ↑ Praguefrank's Country Discography - Don Lee
  3. ↑ Discogs - Terry Lee (25), Discography
  4. ↑ Billboard, October 12, 1974 - Page 40 Country, 3000 Miles Apart, Major Country Fests Set
  5. ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series
    Volume 28, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2
    Music
    Current and Renewal Registrations
    July–December 1974 - Page 3992
  6. ↑ Billboard, December 26, 1974 - Page 46 Billboards's Top Single Picks, Country, recommended
  7. ↑ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Melodyland/Hitsville Records
  8. ↑ Billboard - HOT COUNTRY SONGS, The week of March 29, 1975
  9. ↑ 45Cat - Lloyd Goodson - Discography, USA
  10. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles, 1944-1988, Joel Whitburn - LLOYD GOODSON
  11. ↑ 45Cat - Don Lee (Crescent) - Discography
  12. ↑ Copyright Encyclopedia - I'm in love with a memory
  13. ↑ Billboard Magazine, July 31, 1982 - Page 51 Billboards's Top Single Picks, Country, recommended
  14. ↑ Billboard - Don Lee, Chart History, 16 Lovin' Ounces To The Pound
  15. ↑ Find A Grave - Donald Lee Tunison
  16. ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series
    Volume 28, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2
    Music
    Current and Renewal Registrations
    July–December 1974 - Page 3992
  17. ↑ Billboard, December 26, 1974 - Page 46 Billboards's Top Single Picks, Country, recommended
  18. ↑ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Melodyland/Hitsville Records
  19. ↑ 45Cat - Bobby Wyld (country) - Discography
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ 45cAT - Tex Williams - Discography, USA Page 2
  22. ↑ Cash Box , November 27, 1976 - Page 27 CountrySinglesReviews ~ AlbumReviews
  23. ↑ 45Cat - C. L. Goodson - Discography, Canada
  24. ↑ 45Cat - Lloyd Goodson - Discography, USA
  25. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles, 1944-1988, Joel Whitburn - LLOYD GOODSON
  26. ↑ Cash Box, November 27, 1976 - Page 27 CountrySinglesReviews ~ AlbumReviews
  27. ↑ 45Cat - Crescent (Beverly Hills, California) - Label Discography, USA
  28. ↑ Discogs - Don Lee
  29. ↑ 45Cat - Crescent (Beverly Hills, California) - Label Discography, USA
  30. ↑ Discogs - Terry Lee (25), Discography
  31. ↑ Praguefrank's Country Discography - Don Lee
  32. ↑ Discogs - Don Lee, Discography
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