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 (Results 26-50 of 60 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 60 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gaines, Lee," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316806.

Gaines, Lee. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316806.

"Gaines, Lee." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316806

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