Lee Dorsey

Biography

Irving Lee Dorsey (December 24, 1924 – December 1, 1986) was an American pop and R&B singer during the 1960s. His biggest hits were "Ya Ya×Ya Ya1991 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Ya Ya2:292Do Re Me2:153You're Breaking Me Up2:174Messed Around and Fell in Love2:285Hoodlum Joe1:536When I Meet My Baby2:537Eeenie Meenie Mini Mo2:128Give Me You2:279People Gonna Talk2:3810Ixie Dixie Pixie Pie2:1011One and One1:5912Chin Chin2:1513Lil Liza Jane2:3614Yum Yum2:2615Give Me Your Love2:1816Great Googa Mooga2:03" (1961) and "Working in the Coal Mine×Working in the Coal Mine29 July 1966 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWorking in the Coal MineBMexico" (1966). Much of his work was produced by Allen Toussaint, with instrumental backing provided by the Meters.

Career

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dorsey was a childhood friend of Fats Domino. He moved to Portland, Oregon when he was ten years old. 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. He returned to New Orleans in 1955, where he opened an auto repair business as well as singing in clubs at night.
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). 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. After meeting songwriter and record producer Allen Toussaint at a party, he recorded "Ya Ya×Ya Ya1991 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Ya Ya2:292Do Re Me2:153You're Breaking Me Up2:174Messed Around and Fell in Love2:285Hoodlum Joe1:536When I Meet My Baby2:537Eeenie Meenie Mini Mo2:128Give Me You2:279People Gonna Talk2:3810Ixie Dixie Pixie Pie2:1011One and One1:5912Chin Chin2:1513Lil Liza Jane2:3614Yum Yum2:2615Give Me Your Love2:1816Great Googa Mooga2:03", a song inspired by a group of children chanting nursery rhymes. It went to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. 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, but also released singles on the Smash and Constellation labels in 1963 and 1964.
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×Working in the Coal Mine29 July 1966 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWorking in the Coal MineBMexico" (his biggest pop hit) and "Holy Cow×Holy Cow1966 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAHoly CowBOperation Heartache", 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×The New Lee Dorsey18 November 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1Working in the Coal Mine2:502Operation Heartache1:363Why Wait Until Tomorrow2:504A Mellow Good Time2:155Mexico2:056Gotta Find a Job2:277Rain Rain Go Away2:488Confusion2:279Holy Cow2:3110Don’t You Ever (Leave Me)2:0311Neighbor’s Daughter2:3612A Little Dab a Do Ya2:4013A Mellow Good Time, Part 22:0314Little Ba‐by2:5115I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter2:2716A Lover Was Born2:5517What Now My Love5:1118Lottie Mo ’683:4219Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky (From Now On)3:0920There Should Be A Book2:1921Candy Yam2:1422Give It Up3:0323What You Want (Is What You Get)3:1624I’m the One2:27 in 1966. In 1970 Dorsey and Toussaint collaborated on the album Yes We Can×Yes We Can1970 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Yes We Can, Part 13:31A2Riverboat2:35A3Tears, Tears and More Tears3:21A4O Me-O, My-O2:43A5Sneakin' Sally Thru the Alley2:51A6Yes We Can, Part 23:29B1Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?3:05B2Games People Play3:14B3When the Bill's Paid2:29B4Occapella2:42B5Gator Tail3:03B6Would You?3:47; 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.
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×Night People1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Say It Again2:56A2God Must Have Blessed America3:37A3Soul Mine3:59A4Keep on Doing It to Me3:07A5Thank You3:24B1Night People4:20B2Can I Be the One4:33B3Babe3:48B4Draining4:24. 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.
Dorsey developed emphysema and died on December 1, 1986, in New Orleans, at the age of 61.

Compilation albums

Gonh Be Funky (1980)
All Ways Funky (1982)
Holy Cow! The Best of Lee Dorsey (1985)
20 Greatest Hits (1991)
Golden Classics (1994)
Wheelin' and Dealin' - The Definitive Collection (1997)
Holy Cow: The Very Best of Lee Dorsey (2005)
The Best of Lee Dorsey (2006)