Biography
For the 1st 25 years of his life, John was raised in the
Louisiana Mississippi delta, immersed in the wealth of
Jazz, blues and Gospel music that became the DNA Of North
American pop music for the next 50 years. His childhood
encounters with the likes of Elvis Presley and Dr. Martin
Luther King are part of the landscape that influenced
this gifted piano, sax & vocal performer and
composer. At 12 years old, John Lee was billed as
“Birmingham’s answer to Little Stevie Wonder” and opened
for many R&B legends.
His song "Foreclose on the House of Love" reached number
9 on the blues charts in 2004, and a WC Handy Nomination
for Blues song of the year,
The year 2007 brought an Emmy nomination for song of the
year from the long running Soap Opera, Bold &
Beautiful, in the jazz ballad "Just One Kiss"
John Lee was influenced by the sounds of Cajun, Zydeco,
New Orleans Funk and Gospel. He received a musical
scholarship and studied saxophone, guitar and piano. With
a degree in composition from the prestigious North Texas
State University, gave him the tools to write film
scores, charts for sessions like the Tower of Power
horns, and all the way up to a full Symphony Orchestra.
While studying in Rome Italy, he met Professor Longhair
and Dr. John at the Montreux Jazz Fest and formed a
lifelong passion for New Orleans piano.
Since the 70's, John Lee's musical resume is like a
history lesson of American Pop, Jazz and R&B,
recording /performing with legends such as Willie Nelson,
John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Witherspoon, Freddie King, Dr.
John, The Meters, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, Tower of
Power, Sam Moore, Mary Wells & Stevie Wonder.
John Lee has performed at Festivals all over Europe and
North America, He is one-of-a-kind, and his breadth in
musical genre rivals his mastery of instruments and
disciplines in the field. He can sit in front of a piano
and transport you from a smoky New Orleans Cajun bar to a
blues club in Chicago to an uptown Jazz club in
Manhattan.
Blues Biographer David Ritz wrote..........
“he’s hitched a ride from Memphis, dealing with the
ghosts of Highway 61, arriving in New Orleans in order to
comfort us with the good news: that true music is truer
than ever. His songs, full-bodied and blood-washed, are
rooted in reality. He reminds us that blues are concerned
with neither nostalgia nor self-pity. John Lee Sanders’
blues are about nothing less a renewal of strength, a
resurrection of the human spirit, a projection of
hard-earned hope and a declaration of extravagant love. “
"You did an amazing job and made my job so much easier.
All the vocal complexities you added just really elevated
the song.
Really great work John. Bravo on Your work"
William Ross, Music Director, 2007 Academy Awards,
Producer & Music director for Barbara Streisand and
film composer.
"I've been hearing Doc Goes Hollywood all along, and I
think it's tremendous. Can't wait to hear the finished
deal. Your work on it is spectacular." Great work John,
Huey Lewis
Discography
World Blue, Hypertension/BMG Records,
Europe 1995
Mozart Rhythm and Romance, Raw
Records 1999
It's All Blues To Me, Independent
Blues CD, 2000
Single, nominated for blues song of the year
2004
Beacon of Light, independent
Gospel CD, 2001
Live at Rock Beach, independent
blues CD
Doc Goes Hollywood,
Strokeland Records- Nominated for
Western Canada Music Award
(Outstanding Blues Recording, 2008)
Bucket Full of Blues, PAO Records,
Europe, 2008
John Lee Sanders is distributed digitally on Ioda digital
Alliance, and in Europe on PAO Records
About
German Bio
Short Bio
John Lee Sanders
Genre: New Orleans Blues
Funk, Roots & Gospel
British Columbia
Canada
New Orleans deep fried funk, in a bucket full of blues. A musical gumbo of boogie piano, wailing Texas Tenor sax, and a soulful voice that's Raw. Real. Sweet. Tart. An instrument of tremendous emotional and spiritual range. 2004 WC Handy and an a 2007Emmy award nomination, song of the year.
