Arthur Lee (musician)
| Arthur Lee | |
|---|---|
Lee in 1977
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Arthur Porter Taylor |
| Born |
March 7, 1945 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 3, 2006 (aged 61) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards |
| Years active | 1963–2006 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Love |
| Website | www |
Arthur Taylor Lee (born Arthur Porter Taylor; March 7, 1945 – August 3, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter who rose to fame as the frontman of the Los Angeles rock band Love, widely recognized as one of the most influential pop groups of the sixties.
Lee was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 7, 1945 in John Gaston Hospital, to Agnes (née Porter), a school teacher and Chester Taylor, a local jazz musician and cornet player. As an only child, Lee was known by the nickname "Po", short for Porter, and was looked after by additional family members so his mother could proceed her teaching career. With his father being his first connection with a musician, Lee was fascinated by music at young age. He would sing and hum along to blues musicians such as Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters on the radio. At the age of four, Lee made his debut on the stage at a Baptist church, reciting a small poem about a red telephone.
In the early 1950s, his parents separated as his father "refused or neglected to provide for her", the divorce petition states. Lee only remembered seeing his father three times during his entire life. Subsequently, Lee and his mother packed their things and took a train to California, while his father was at work. Lee and his mother resided in Los Angeles permanently in 1952. In 1953, their divorce was granted and his mother married Clinton Lee, a successful construction worker, on April 23, 1955. Lee was formally adopted by Clinton Lee on June 6, 1960, legally acquiring his surname, after filing for an adoption notice in 1958. His mother was able to resume her teaching career, enabling the family to buy a new home in the West Adams area of South Central Los Angeles. Attending the same schools as Lee, the neighbourhood was also home to Johnny Echols, who would later be the lead guitarist for Love.
Lee attended Sixth Avenue Elementary School and excelled in athletics but was behind academically. Being known as "the toughest kid in the neighborhood", Lee was pressured into succeeding in school by his great aunt, a former school principal, but showed interest in sports, music, reading and animals. Lee later attended Mount Vernon Junior High, where his interest in music would soon outweigh his focus on sports.
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Wikipedia