John Dotson Lee Jr. (July 4, 1898 - December 12, 1965) was an American singer, dancer and actor known for voicing the role of Br'er Rabbit in Disney's Song of the South (1946)[1] and as Algonquin J. Calhoun in the CBS TV and radio comedy series Amos 'n' Andy[2] in the early 1950s. Much of his career was spent in vaudeville, but he also performed in motion pictures, on recordings and in television. He released a record (as "Johnnie Lee") in July 1949 called "You Can't Lose A Broken Heart" (Columbia Records # 30172), with backup vocals by The Ebonaires. Lee also starred in an all-black musical comedy called "Sugar Hill" in 1949 at Las Palmas Theatre in California.[3]
Johnny Lee | |
|---|---|
 Publicity Photo of Johnny Lee | |
| Born | John Dotson Lee Jr. July 4, 1898 Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | December 12, 1965 (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1932–1965 |
| Spouse | Jenrive Lee |
He died of a heart attack on December 12, 1965, aged 67.[4]
Discography
edit- Song of the South: Soundtrack (1946)
- You Can't Lose a Broken Heart (released July 1949)
- Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party[5] (1954)
Selected filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | The Black King | Count of Zanzibar | Alternative title: Harlem Hot Shot |
| 1936 | The Green Pastures | Angel | Uncredited |
| 1942 | Tales of Manhattan | Shantytown Carpenter (Robeson sequence) | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Stormy Weather | Lyles | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Song of the South | Br'er Rabbit | Voice |
| Mantan Runs for Mayor | |||
| 1948 | Boarding House Blues | Stanley | |
| The Return of Mandy's Husband | |||
| She's Too Mean for Me | |||
| Come On, Cowboy! | |||
| 1951 | My Forbidden Past | Toy Vendor | Uncredited |
| 1952 | The Narrow Margin | Waiter | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Ramar of the Jungle | Chief Warren | Episode: "Savage Fury" |
| 1951-1953 | The Amos 'n Andy Show (TV) | Algonquin J. Calhoun | 68 episodes |
| 1955 | Screen Directors Playhouse | Simon | Episode: "Lincoln's Doctor's Dog" |
| 1956 | The First Traveling Saleslady | Amos | Uncredited |
| Soldiers of Fortune | Kamele | Episode: "The Greater Magic" | |
| The Adventures of Jim Bowie | Israel | Episode: "The Return of the Alciblade" | |
| 1957 | The Spirit of St. Louis | Jess - Cook at Louie's Shack | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Hot Spell | Colored Man | Uncredited |
| 1960 | The Rat Race | Janitor | Uncredited |
| High Time | Servant at Judge Carter's Ball | Uncredited | |
| North to Alaska | Coachman | Uncredited | |
| 1962-1963 | Dennis the Menace | Johnny the Locksmith Mr. Tibbitt |
2 episodes (final television appearance) |
References
edit- ^ Thomas S. Hischak & Mark A. Robinson, The Disney Song Encyclopedia, 2009, p. 50. "... Ray Gilbert (lyric) for the innovative musical film Song of the South (1946), which successfully mixed animation and live action. During one of the animated Uncle Remus tales, Brer Rabbit (voice of Johnny Lee), captured by Brer Fox and Brer Bear and about to be cooked, happily sings about his secret laughing place. The ploy works; Rabbit's captors let him free..."
- ^ "Johnny Lee at Old Time Radio Database". 2017-09-26. Archived from the original on 2017-09-27.
- ^ Propes, Steve; Gart, Galen (2001). L. A. R&B Vocal Groups 1945-1965. Milford, New Hampshire: Big Nickel Publications. ISBN 0-936433-18-3.
- ^ Johnny Lee, biography, retrieved March 2011
- ^ "A Spin Special: Stan Freberg Records". 2017-09-21. Archived from the original on 2021-09-28.
External links
edit- Johnny Lee at IMDb
- Johnny Lee at the Internet Broadway Database
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