Lee Hays

Lee Elhardt Hays (March 14, 1914 – August 26, 1981) was an American folk singer and songwriter, best known for singing bass with the Weavers. Throughout his life, he was concerned with overcoming racism, inequality, and violence in society. He wrote or cowrote "Wasn't That a Time?", "If I Had a Hammer", and "Kisses Sweeter than Wine", which became Weavers' staples. He also familiarized audiences with songs of the 1930s labor movement, such as "We Shall Not Be Moved".

Birth and Death Data: Born March 14, 1914 (Little Rock), Died August 26, 1981 (Croton-on-Hudson)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1950 - 1961

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 51 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 81180 6/12/1951 Quiliting bee The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81181 6/12/1951 Kisses sweeter than wine The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81443 8/23/1951 Jig along home The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81444 8/23/1951 One for the little bitty baby The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81445 8/23/1951 (Come on and) Join into the game The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81446 8/23/1951 We wish you a merry Christmas The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81561 9/19/1951 The twelve days of Christmas The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81562 9/19/1951 Poor little Jesus The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81563 9/19/1951 The seven blessings of Mary The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81564 9/19/1951 Go tell it on the mountain The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81565 9/19/1951 Joy to the world ; Masters in this hall The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81566 9/19/1951 Lulloo lullaby ; It's almost dry The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81567 9/19/1951 Burgundian carol ; God rest ye merry, gentlemen The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81774 10/25/1951 Old paint (Ride around little dogies) The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81775 10/25/1951 Wimoweh The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 81776 10/25/1951 Midnight special The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 82825 5/6/1952 Hard, ain't it hard? The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 84006 2/26/1953 Rock Island line The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 84007 2/26/1953 Benoni The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 84008 2/26/1953 Taking it easy The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 84009 2/26/1953 Sylvie The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 111503 12/20/1961 Jig along home The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca L 6883 9/17/1952 The bay of Mexico The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca L 6884 9/17/1952 True love The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca L 6885 9/17/1952 Clementine The Weavers vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 26-50 of 51 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hays, Lee," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204366.

Hays, Lee. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204366.

"Hays, Lee." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204366

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