News | Entertainment
22 Dec 2024 15:33
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Bill Lee has died at the age of 94

    The jazz musician passed away on Wednesday (24.05.23) at his home in Brooklyn, New York and his death was announced by his film director son Spike Lee in a post on social media


    The 'Malcolm X' director captioned the Instagram post: "This Morning May 24th My Father Made His Transition... Also Must Give Love To Our Sista TINA TURNER Who Left Us Today on This May 24th 2023. WHEW LAWD. What A Day."

    Bill composed scores for several of his son's early movies, including 'She's Gotta Have It', 'School Daze' and 'Do The Right Thing'.

    He was also a successful jazz musician in his own right and performed with legendary stars such as Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel and Aretha Franklin.

    Born William James Edwards Lee III in Alabama in 1928, he was the son of two musicians and started to learn how to play instruments from a very early age.

    He learned the bass while studying at Morehouse College in Atlanta and then sought out the jazz scenes in both New York and Chicago.

    Bill famously accompanied Bob Dylan on his classic hit 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue' from the 1965 album 'Bringing It All Back Home'.

    Spike credited his father for teaching him all that he knows about music.

    Speaking in 1990, the 66-year-old director said: "Everything I know about jazz I got from my father.

    "I saw his integrity, how he was not going to play just any kind of music, no matter how much money he could make."

    Bill is survived by his wife Susan Kaplan, children Spike, David, Joie, Cinque, and Arnold, and two grandchildren.

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     21 Dec: TV presenter Michael Mosley's cause of death 'unascertainable', coroner finds
     21 Dec: Ariana Grande would love to perform alongside Cynthia Erivo at the Oscars
     21 Dec: Ariana Madix has encouraged the new cast of 'Vanderpump Rules' to "forge their own path"
     21 Dec: Gracie Abrams loves "being alone"
     21 Dec: Taron Egerton finds it "hard" to watch himself on-screen
     21 Dec: Sarah Michelle Gellar believes people have a "disposable" attitude towards relationships
     21 Dec: Tom Holland thinks fame is a "balancing act"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Fourth seed Luke Littler is safely through to the third round of darts' World Championships in London after a 3-1 win over fellow Brit Ryan Meikle More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A lack of surprise over the drops sales for spirits and RTDs More...



     Today's News

    Environment:
    MetService has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Ashburton, Timaru and MacKenzie districts 15:26

    Boxing:
    Tyson Fury is shaking is head at the judges scorecards after losing his heavyweight boxing title rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh 15:16

    Law and Order:
    Police have charged two men after the death of Napier man Boy Taylor, in the city's centre on Wednesday 14:56

    Basketball:
    A new Tauihi basketball champion could be crowned this afternoon with the Whai hosting the Tokomanawa Queens in Tauranga 14:36

    General:
    Australia's Logan Martin wins third BMX freestyle world championship 14:16

    Law and Order:
    Police are appealing for CCTV footage to help in their search for a woman missing in Wellington 14:06

    Boxing:
    Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury by unanimous decision to retain world heavyweight titles 13:36

    International:
    US military conducts air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen 13:26

    Environment:
    Vanuatu earthquake to 'stretch thin' country's recovery from cascading disasters 13:06

    Law and Order:
    A man's been arrested following a large brawl at an Auckland bar, after a Christmas party-goer allegedly struck a young woman in the face, when she rejected his advances 13:06


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd