Lee Gaines

Otho Lee Gaines (April 21, 1914 – July 15, 1987) was an American jazz singer and lyricist. Gaines wrote the lyrics for "Take the "A" Train" and "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'", two jazz standards by Billy Strayhorn.

Lee Gaines was from Buena Vista, in Mississippi, and began singing as a bass in high school, he formed a vocal quartet at Langston University in 1933, and returned to the United States in 1937 having toured South America. Gaines was a founding member of the Delta Rhythm Boys who achieved their peak popularity in the 1940s and 50's, having recorded with Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Jimmy Lunceford, Charlie Barnet, Fred Astaire, Ruth Brown and Les Paul.

The Delta Rhythm Boys moved to Europe in the 1950s. Gaines had lived in Finland for a year at the time of his death from cancer in 1987 and he is buried in Maunulan uurnalehto, an urn cemetery at Helsinki (section 39, lot 109). Gaines was married to Muriel Gaines, a calypso singer and former Cotton Club dancer.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1915 (Houston), Died 1997

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, lyricist

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-0522 10-in. 4/24/1947 One o'clock jump Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Brunswick DAL174 10-in. 9/27/1935 I can't dance (I got ants in my pants) Roy Newman and his Boys String band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Decca 68502 10-in. 12/16/1940 Dry bones Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 68503 10-in. 12/16/1940 Joshua fit the battle of Jericho Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 68504 10-in. 12/16/1940 Gimme some skin Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 68505 10-in. 12/16/1940 Chilly 'n cold Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 68708 10-in. 2/14/1941 Stardust Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 68709 10-in. 2/14/1941 My imaginary love Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 68710 10-in. 2/14/1941 My blue heaven Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 68711 10-in. 2/14/1941 would it be asking too much Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69238 10-in. 5/22/1941 She believed a gypsy Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69239 10-in. 5/22/1941 I do, do you Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69240 10-in. 5/22/1941 The things I love Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69360 10-in. 6/13/1941 Do you care? Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69413 10-in. 6/24/1941 When I'm gone you'll soon forget Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69414 10-in. 6/24/1941 When you're gone I won't forget Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69667 10-in. 8/21/1941 Playin' the game Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69668 10-in. 8/21/1941 Take the A train Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69669 10-in. 8/21/1941 Down on the delta shore Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 69670 10-in. 8/21/1941 Let me off uptown Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 70758 10-in. 5/19/1942 Mad about her, sad without her Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 70759 10-in. 5/19/1942 Keep smilin' , keep laughin' Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 71301 10-in. 10/15/1942 Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 72674 10-in. 1/4/1945 Gee baby ain't I good to you Gulf Coast Five vocalist  
Decca 72675 10-in. 1/4/1945 Is there somebody else Gulf Coast Five vocalist  
Decca 72696 10-in. 1/15/1945 My sacrifice Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 72697 10-in. 1/15/1945 Don't knock it Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 72969 10-in. 7/9/1945 Just a-sittin' and a-rockin' Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 72970 10-in. 7/9/1945 My sacrifice Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 72971 10-in. 7/9/1945 Hey John Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 72972 10-in. 7/9/1945 Don't knock it Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 75734 1/23/1950 You go to your church and I'll go mine Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 75735 1/23/1950 Beyond the sunset (Should you go first) Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 75793 2/1/1950 I'd rather be wrong than blue Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 75794 2/1/1950 It's all in your mind Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 75795 2/1/1950 You are closer to my heart Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 75796 2/1/1950 Fan tan Fannie Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 86717 8/26/1954 Shoes Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 86718 8/26/1954 Have a hope, have a wish, have a prayer Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 86719 8/26/1954 Kiss crazy baby Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 86720 8/26/1954 Mood indigo Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 87704 4/8/1955 Don't even change a picture Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 87705 4/8/1955 Headin' for the bottom Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 87706 4/8/1955 Babylon Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca 87707 4/8/1955 That's just the way that I feel Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 3329 10-in. 2/25/1944 Texas polka Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 3330 10-in. 2/25/1944 Do nothin' till you hear from me Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 3331 10-in. 2/25/1944 Just a-sittin' and a-rockin Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 3332 10-in. 2/25/1944 Trav'lin' light Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 3372 10-in. 3/24/1944 The house I live in Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4116 4/11/1946 Just a-sittin' and a-rockin' Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4117 3/11/1946 No pad to be had Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4125 3/19/1946 Just a-sittin' and a-rockin' Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4131 3/21/1946 Hello, goodbye, forget it Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4132 3/21/1946 Just squeeze me Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4187 5/17/1946 But she's my buddy's chick Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4188 5/17/1946 walk it off Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4193 5/22/1946 A one-sided affair Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4194 10-in. 5/22/1946 What would it take? Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  
Decca L 4320 10/17/1946 Just squeeze me Delta Rhythm Boys vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gaines, Lee," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316806.

Gaines, Lee. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316806.

"Gaines, 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/316806

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