Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

A tribute to Julian Lee

Before Ray Columbus and Max Merritt, who were the musical legends in Christchurch? Which New Zealand musician was told by Frank Sinatra to “Come to Hollywood”?

This new season of Blue Smoke, explores the early years of recorded New Zealand popular music. Local hits did not begin with ‘She’s a Mod’ or even ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’.

After the release of ‘Blue Smoke’ in 1949 launched the local recording industry, the fledgling studios were busy capturing the sounds of New Zealand artists.

Among those prominent was Julian Lee, the blind multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer, who would later work at Capitol Records in Hollywood.

Music details: Golden Ears

Track: Fine and Dandy
Artist: Julian Lee and His Symphony of Magic Pianos
Album: Holidays and Novelties (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 7)
Composer: Kay Swift
Label: Stebbing

Track: Julian Lee interview by Haydn Sherley, 1999
Source: Musical Chairs programme
Location: Radio New Zealand Music, Wellington

Track: Twelfth Street Rag
Artist: Julian Lee, piano, and Martin Winiata, saxophones
Source: 1935 acetate
Composer: public domain
Location: Dennis Huggard/Chris Bourke

Track: Baby You Can Count on Me
Artist: Julian Lee, alto
Album: Auckland Jazz Concert, 1950
Composer: Lee Adams, Charles Strouse
Label: Ode SODET 467

Track: Messin’ Round
Artist: Julian Lee, alto
Album: Auckland Jazz Concert, 1950
Composer: unlisted
Label: Ode SODET 467

Track: There’s a Pawnshop on the Corner
Artist: Mavis Rivers & Julian Lee
Album: Pretty and Popular (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 1)
Composer: Bob Merrill
Label: Stebbing

Track: Noodlin’ Rag
Artist: Mavis Rivers, Crombie Murdoch & Julian Lee
Album: Love on the Wireless (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 2)
Composer: Allen-Roberts
Label: Stebbing

Track: I Love You Because
Artist: Esme Stephens
Album: Esme Stephens & Friends (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 5)
Composer: Leon Payne
Label: Stebbing

Track: Piana Anna
Artist: Julian Lee with the Zodiac Mellotones
Album: Pretty and Popular (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 1)
Composer: unlisted
Label: Stebbing

Track: Gomen Nasai
Artist: Julian Lee with Don Grant Trio
Album: Cosy By the Fire (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 6)
Composer: Benedict Mayers
Label: Stebbing

Track: Oh, Happy Day
Artist: “Sir Hugo” Holme, with Four and Some More
Album: Turn Back the Hands of Time (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 4)
Composer: unlisted
Label: Stebbing

Track: Doghouse Boogie
Artist: “Sir Hugo” Holme, with Four and Some More
Album: Cosy By the Fire (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 6)
Composer: Hawkshaw Hawkins
Label: Stebbing

Track: Just One of Those Things
Artist: Julian Lee And His Symphony Of Magic Pianos
Album: Holidays and Novelties (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 7)
Composer: Cole Porter
Label: Stebbing

Track: Mixed Emotions
Artist: Esme Stephens
Album: Esme Stephens & Friends (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 5)
Composer: Louchheim
Label: Stebbing

Track: Celebration Rag
Artist: Four And Some More
Album: Holidays and Novelties (Archive Series 1945-1956 Vol 7)
Composer: Rodd Arden and Jimmy Harper
Label: Stebbing

Track: Take the A Train
Artist: Julian Lee Trio
Album: 12th National Jazz Festival
Composer: Billy Strayhorn
Label: TJF 74

Track: Judo
Artist: Tasman Connection
Album: Don Burrows Presents the Tasman Connection
Composer: Julian Lee
Label: Cherry Pie L37664

Track: Christopher Columbus/Sing Sing Sing
Artist: Ricky May with the Julian Lee Orchestra
Album: The Best of Ricky May
Composer: Razaf-Berry/E H Morris
Label: EMI 479 657

Track: Shadrack
Artist: Ricky May with the Julian Lee Orchestra
Album: The Best of Ricky May
Composer: Macgimsey
Label: EMI 479 657