Lee Denson
Lee Denson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jesse Lee Denson |
| Also known as | Jesse James |
| Born | August 25, 1932 Rienzi, Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | November 6, 2007 (aged 75) Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United states |
| Genres | Rockabilly, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1956–1965[1] |
Jesse Lee Denson (August 25, 1932 – November 6, 2007) was an American rockabilly singer and songwriter.[1] His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Billy Williams, and the Kuf-Linx.
Biography
Denson was born in
Pentecostal mission church in Memphis. As a child, Denson became friends with Johnny and Dorsey Burnette. After the Presley family moved to Memphis in 1948 and started attending the Pentecostal church on Poplar Street run by his father, he also became friendly with Elvis Presley, two years his junior, and reputedly taught him to play guitar.[1][2]
In 1953 Denson moved to
bellboy, Denson began singing in clubs in the style of Eddy Arnold. After seeing his friends Johnny and Dorsey Burnette on television, he moved to New York City to develop a music career, eventually gaining a recording contract with the Vik label, a subsidiary of RCA Records.[2] His recordings included "Climb Love Mountain" (1957, Vik).[3][4] The b-side of the single was "New Shoes",[3] which featured guitar work by Eddie Cochran, who Denson had met while on tour in California.[2][5] The Kuf-Linx recorded a version of "Climb Love Mountain", re-titled as "Climb Love's Mountain".[6] Another of Denson's songs, "The Pied Piper",[7] was a No. 50 US hit for Billy Williams in 1957.[8][9]
Denson made several appearances on
Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima
, even leading some pilgrimages to the Portuguese Marian shrine.
In 1964, Denson recorded for the Magic Lamp label set up by Dorsey Burnette and
backing singers on the records. He returned to Memphis in 1972, and signed a contract with Stax Records. He later wrote and recorded several albums of Christian music for his own Eternal Rainbow label, as well as recording children's songs.[2]
A compilation album of Denson's work was released in April 2002 on Hydra Records. The South's Gonna Rise Again contained 23 tracks, the majority written by Denson.[11]
Denson died in Memphis, Tennessee, in November 2007 at the age of 75.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Lee Denson - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lee Denson". Rockabilly.nl. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Lee Denson". Discogs. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1 July 1957. p. 61. Retrieved 14 July 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Eddie Cochran Connection". Pcuf.fi. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ "The Kuf-Linx Featuring John Jennings (6) And John Woodson (3) - All Thats Good". Discogs. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ "Lee Denson - Songs - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ "Lee Denson • Top Songs as Writer • Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ISBN 978-0898201727.
- ^ "Elvis Now - Elvis Presley - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ "The South's Gonna Rise Again - Lee Denson - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
External links
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