Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dorsey was a childhood friend of Fats Domino. He moved to Portland, Oregon when he was ten years old.[3] He served in the United States Navy in World War II and began a career in prizefighting. Boxing as a featherweight in Portland in the early 1950s, he fought under the name Kid Chocolate and was not successful, fighting only one time and being knocked out in the second round.[4] He returned to New Orleans in 1955, where he opened an auto repair business as well as singing in clubs at night.[2]
His first recording was "Rock Pretty Baby/Lonely Evening" on Cosimo Mattasa's Rex label, in 1958. This was followed by "Lottie Mo/Lover of Love", for the small Valiant label in late 1960 (picked up by ABC Paramount in 1961).[5] These efforts were unsuccessful, but around 1960 he was discovered by A&R man Marshall Sehorn, who secured him a contract with Fury Records, owned by Bobby Robinson.[6] After meeting songwriter and record producer Allen Toussaint at a party,[7] he recorded "Ya Ya", a song inspired by a group of children chanting nursery rhymes.[2] It went to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[8] Although the follow-up "Do-Re-Mi" also made the charts, later releases on Fury were not successful. Dorsey returned to running his repair business,[2] but also released singles on the Smash and Constellation labels in 1963 and 1964.[5]
He was approached again by Toussaint, and recorded Toussaint's song "Ride Your Pony" for the Amy label, a subsidiary of Bell Records. The song reached No. 7 on the R&B chart in late 1965, and he followed it up with "Get Out of My Life, Woman", "Working in the Coal Mine" – his biggest pop hit – and "Holy Cow", all of which made the pop charts in both the US and the UK. Dorsey toured internationally, and also recorded an album with Toussaint, The New Lee Dorsey in 1966.[2] In 1970 Dorsey and Toussaint collaborated on the album Yes We Can; the title song was Dorsey's last entry in the US singles chart. It was later a hit for the Pointer Sisters under the title, "Yes We Can Can". With declining sales, Dorsey returned to his auto repair business.[6]
^Lichtenstein, Grace; Dankner, Laura (October 13, 1993). Musical Gumbo: The Music of New Orleans. New York City: W.W. Norton. ISBN9780393034684 – via Google Books.
^"Lee Dorsey". Boxrec.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
^ ab"ldorsey". Soulfulkindamusic.net. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
^ abcBuckley, Peter (October 13, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN9781843531050 – via Google Books.
^"Lee Dorsey Page". Tsimon.com. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
^Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 134. ISBN0-214-20512-6.
^ ab. AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
^"LEE DORSEY - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
^Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955–2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 206. ISBN0-89820-155-1.
^Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 121.
^Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952–2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 234. ISBN0-00-717931-6.
dorsey, irving, december, 1924, december, 1986, american, singer, during, 1960s, biggest, hits, were, 1961, working, coal, mine, 1966, much, work, produced, allen, toussaint, with, instrumental, backing, provided, meters, background, informationbirth, nameirvi. Irving Lee Dorsey December 24 1924 1 December 1 1986 2 was an American pop and R amp B singer during the 1960s His biggest hits were Ya Ya 1961 and Working in the Coal Mine 1966 Much of his work was produced by Allen Toussaint with instrumental backing provided by the Meters Lee DorseyBackground informationBirth nameIrving Lee DorseyBorn 1924 12 24 December 24 1924New Orleans Louisiana U S DiedDecember 1 1986 1986 12 01 aged 61 New Orleans LouisianaGenresR amp B soul funkOccupation s SingerYears active1950s 1986LabelsFury Amy Polydor ABC Contents 1 Career 2 Discography 2 1 Studio albums 2 2 Compilation albums 2 3 Singles 3 References 4 External linksCareer editBorn in New Orleans Louisiana Dorsey was a childhood friend of Fats Domino He moved to Portland Oregon when he was ten years old 3 He served in the United States Navy in World War II and began a career in prizefighting Boxing as a featherweight in Portland in the early 1950s he fought under the name Kid Chocolate and was not successful fighting only one time and being knocked out in the second round 4 He returned to New Orleans in 1955 where he opened an auto repair business as well as singing in clubs at night 2 His first recording was Rock Pretty Baby Lonely Evening on Cosimo Mattasa s Rex label in 1958 This was followed by Lottie Mo Lover of Love for the small Valiant label in late 1960 picked up by ABC Paramount in 1961 5 These efforts were unsuccessful but around 1960 he was discovered by A amp R man Marshall Sehorn who secured him a contract with Fury Records owned by Bobby Robinson 6 After meeting songwriter and record producer Allen Toussaint at a party 7 he recorded Ya Ya a song inspired by a group of children chanting nursery rhymes 2 It went to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961 sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc 8 Although the follow up Do Re Mi also made the charts later releases on Fury were not successful Dorsey returned to running his repair business 2 but also released singles on the Smash and Constellation labels in 1963 and 1964 5 He was approached again by Toussaint and recorded Toussaint s song Ride Your Pony for the Amy label a subsidiary of Bell Records The song reached No 7 on the R amp B chart in late 1965 and he followed it up with Get Out of My Life Woman Working in the Coal Mine his biggest pop hit and Holy Cow all of which made the pop charts in both the US and the UK Dorsey toured internationally and also recorded an album with Toussaint The New Lee Dorsey in 1966 2 In 1970 Dorsey and Toussaint collaborated on the album Yes We Can the title song was Dorsey s last entry in the US singles chart It was later a hit for the Pointer Sisters under the title Yes We Can Can With declining sales Dorsey returned to his auto repair business 6 In 1976 Dorsey appeared on the album I Don t Want to Go Home by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes which led to more recordings on his own with ABC Records including the album Night People In 1980 he opened for English punk band The Clash on their US concert tour and also toured in support of James Brown and Jerry Lee Lewis 2 6 Dorsey developed emphysema and died on December 1 1986 in New Orleans at the age of 61 2 Discography editStudio albums edit Year Album Peak chart positions US 9 US R amp B 9 UK 10 1962 Ya Ya 1966 Ride Your Pony Get Out of My Life Woman The New Lee Dorsey Working in the Coalmine 129 13 27 1970 Yes We Can 1978 Night People denotes releases that did not chart Compilation albums edit All Ways Funky 1982 Holy Cow The Best of Lee Dorsey 1985 20 Greatest Hits 1991 Singles edit Year Single Chart positions Album US Pop 11 US R amp B 12 UK 13 1959 Rock b w Lonely Evening Non album track Non album tracks 1961 Lover of Love b w Lottie Mo Ya Ya b w Give Me You 7 1 Ya Ya Rock b w Lonely Evening Non album track Second standard pressing Non album tracks Do Re Mi b w People Gonna Talk 27 22 Ya Ya 1962 Eenie Meenie Minee Mo b w Behind the 8 Ball You Are My Sunshine b w Give Me Your Love Non album tracks 1963 Hoodlum Joe b w When I Met My Baby Hello Good Looking b w Someday 1964 Organ Grinder Swing b w I Gotta Find a New Love You re Breaking Me Up b w Messed Around and Fell in Love 1965 Ride Your Pony b w The Kitty Cat Song 28 7 Ride Your Pony Get Out of My Life Woman Work Work Work b w Can You Hear Me 1966 Get Out of My Life Woman b w So Long 44 5 22 Confusion b w Neighbor s Daughter 38 The New Lee Dorsey Working in the Coal Mine b w Mexico 8 5 8 Holy Cow b w Operation Heartache Non album track 23 10 6 1967 Rain Rain Go Away b w Gotta Find a Job Non album tracks My Old Car b w Why Wait Until Tomorrow 97 Vista Vista b w I Can t Get Away Go Go Girl b w I Can Hear You Callin 62 31 Love Lots of Lovin b w Take Care of Our Love Non album track Both sides with Betty Harris Holy Cow The Best of Lee Dorsey 1968 Cynthia b w I Can t Get Away Non album tracks Wonder Woman b w A Little Dab a Do Ya from The New Lee Dorsey Four Corners Part 1b w Part 2 I m Gonna Sit Right Down and WriteMyself a Letter b w Little Ba by 1969 A Lover Was Born b w What Now My Love Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky From Now On b w There Should Be a Book Non album track 95 33 Holy Cow The Best of Lee Dorsey Give It Up b w Candy Yam Non album tracks 1970 Yes We Can Part 1b w O Me O My O 46 Yes We Can What You Want Is What You Get b w I Can Hear You Callin Non album tracks 1971 Sneakin Sally Through the Alley b w Tears Tears and More Tears Yes We Can Tears Tears and More Tears b w Occapella 1972 Freedom for the Stallion b w If She Won t Find Someone Who Will Non album tracks When Can I Come Home b w Gator Tail from Yes We Can 1973 On Your Way Down b w Freedom for the Stallion 1978 Night People b w Can I Be the One 93 Night People Say It Again b w God Must Have Blessed America 1980 Hey Babe b w Say It Again 1982 Draining b w Soul Mine denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory References edit Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara Praeger Publishers p 175 ISBN 978 0313344237 a b c d e f g Lee Dorsey Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved October 13 2019 Lichtenstein Grace Dankner Laura October 13 1993 Musical Gumbo The Music of New Orleans New York City W W Norton ISBN 9780393034684 via Google Books Lee Dorsey Boxrec com Retrieved July 1 2021 a b ldorsey Soulfulkindamusic net Retrieved October 13 2019 a b c Buckley Peter October 13 2003 The Rough Guide to Rock Rough Guides ISBN 9781843531050 via Google Books Lee Dorsey Page Tsimon com Retrieved October 13 2019 Murrells Joseph 1978 The Book of Golden Discs 2nd ed London Barrie and Jenkins Ltd p 134 ISBN 0 214 20512 6 a b Lee Dorsey Awards AllMusic Archived from the original on October 31 2013 Retrieved January 29 2022 LEE DORSEY full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved January 29 2022 Whitburn Joel 2003 Top Pop Singles 1955 2002 1st ed Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 206 ISBN 0 89820 155 1 Whitburn Joel 1996 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 1995 Record Research p 121 Betts Graham 2004 Complete UK Hit Singles 1952 2004 1st ed London Collins p 234 ISBN 0 00 717931 6 External links editLee Dorsey at Find a Grave Lee Dorsey discography at Discogs nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lee Dorsey amp oldid 1218446921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
