Julia Lee

While attending Lincoln High School she began entertaining at house parties and church socials. After her graduation in 1917, she embarked on her professional career as an intermission pianist at Love's Theater and in the clubs lining 12th Street. A talented vocalist and powerful pianist, she specialized in risqué "songs her mother taught her not to sing."

Julia worked with her brother, George E. Lee for 15 years. In 1935, Julia opened at Milton's on Troost. For the rest of her career she worked primarily in Kansas City. She didn't like to travel, especially in airplanes. She said she would fly, but only if she could "keep one foot on the ground."

Dave E. Dexter, Jr., a native Kansas Citian and Artist and Repertoire Man for Capitol Records, recorded Julia as part of his "history of jazz" series in 1944. Her recording of "Come On Over To My House Baby" was a big hit with jukebox operators and disc jockeys, and the success of this release led to a recording contract with Capitol in 1946. Her 1947 recording of "Snatch and Grab It" sold 500,000 copies.

In 1949, at the invitation of President Harry S. Truman, Julia and drummer Baby Lovett played at the White House for the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents Association. Julia ended her long association with Milton Morris in 1950 and began a residency at the Cuban Room. She had a brief cameo appearance in the locally produced film, "The Delinquents," directed by Robert Altman in 1957.

Pease, Sharon A.

"30 Years in KC, Julia Nabs National Fame." Down Beat, January 15, 1947, Vol. 16, no. 2, page 12.

Dahl, Linda.

Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazz Women. New York: Pantheon, 1984

Tate, Carey James.

"Julia Lee: The Last of the Great Blues Singers," Second Line, Jan/Feb, 1960, page 9.

Haddix, Charles J.

"Julia Lee: The Empress of Kansas City," ARSC Journal, Spring 1990, Volume 21, No. 1 (1990).

Millar, Bill.

"Julia Lee, Kansas City Star." Liner Notes. Bear Family Records BCD 15778, Hambergen, Germany 1995.

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