Lee Dorsey

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Irving Lee Dorsey (born December 24, 1924 in Portland , Oregon , † December 1, 1986 in New Orleans , Louisiana ) was an American singer in the 1960s.

Life

Lee Dorsey started his career as a boxer and fought quite successfully as a teenager under the name Kid Chocolate . After serving in the United States Navy during World War II , he returned to Portland and re-entered the ring as a prize boxer . In 1955 he ended his career as a boxer and opened an auto repair shop in New Orleans; on the side he sang in night clubs.

One day he met the songwriter Allen Toussaint . This convinced Dorsey of his skills as a singer and composer. In April 1961, the first self-composed single Ya Ya was released , which immediately became a hit.

After another successful single in 1962, Dorsey opened a grocery store, released many more records until 1967 and then withdrew from the music business.

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US R&B R&B
1966 New Lee Dorsey UK27 (8 weeks)
UK 		US129 (5 weeks)
US 		R&B13 (8 weeks)
R&B

More albums

  • 1962: Ya Ya
  • 1966: Ride Your Pony - Get Out of My Life Woman
  • 1966: The New Lee Dorsey - Working in the Coalmine
  • 1970: Yes We Can
  • 1978: Night People
  • 1982: All Ways Funky
  • Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky (1967-1969)

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US R&B R&B
1961 Ya ya
ya ya 		- US7 (13 weeks)
US 		R&B1 (19 weeks)
R&B
Do-Re-Mi
Ya Ya 		- US27 (9 weeks)
US 		R&B22 (5 weeks)
R&B
1965 Ride Your Pony
Ride Your Pony - Get Out of My Life Woman 		- US28 (9 weeks)
US 		R&B7 (13 weeks)
R&B
1966 Get Out of My Life, Woman
Ride Your Pony - Get Out of My Life Woman 		UK22 (7 weeks)
UK 		US44 (10 weeks)
US 		R&B5 (10 weeks)
R&B
Confusion
The New Lee Dorsey 		UK38 (6 weeks)
UK 		- -
Working In The Coal Mine
The New Lee Dorsey 		UK8 (11 weeks)
UK 		US8 (12 weeks)
US 		R&B5 (11 weeks)
R&B
Holy Cow
The New Lee Dorsey 		UK6 (12 weeks)
UK 		US23 (9 weeks)
US 		R&B10 (8 weeks)
R&B
1967 My old car
 - US97 (1 week)
US 		-
Go-go girl
 - US62 (6 weeks)
US 		R&B31 (5 weeks)
R&B
1969 Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)
 - US95 (3 weeks)
US 		R&B33 (5 weeks)
R&B
1970 Yes We Can - Part 1
 - - R&B46 (4 weeks)
R&B
1978 Night people
 - - R&B93 (6 weeks)
R&B

More singles

  • 1959: rock
  • 1961: Lover Of Love
  • 1961: rock
  • 1962: Eenie-Meenie-Minee-Mo
  • 1962: You Are My Sunshine
  • 1963: Hoodlum Joe
  • 1963: Hello Good Looking
  • 1964: Organ Grinder Swing
  • 1964: You're Breaking Me Up
  • 1965: Work, Work, Work
  • 1967: Rain Rain Go Away
  • 1967: Vista, Vista
  • 1967: Love Lots Of Lovin
  • 1968: Cynthia
  • 1968: Wonder Woman
  • 1968: Four Corners "- Part 1
  • 1968: I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
  • 1969: A Lover Was Born
  • 1969: Give It Up
  • 1970: What You Want (Is What You Get)
  • 1971: Sneakin 'Sally Through The Alley
  • 1971: Tears, Tears and More Tears
  • 1972: Freedom For The Stallion
  • 1972: When Can I Come Home
  • 1973: On Your Way Down
  • 1978: Say It Again
  • 1980: Hey babe
  • 1982: Draining

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b Chart sources: UK US
personal data
SURNAME Dorsey, Lee
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kid Chocolate (a pseudonym in his youth); Dorsey, Irving Lee (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American singer
DATE OF BIRTH December 24, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH Portland , Oregon , United States
DATE OF DEATH 1st December 1986
Place of death New Orleans , Louisiana , United States