Bill Lee (singer)
Encyclopedia
Bill Lee was an American playback singer
who provided a voice or singing voice in many films, for actors in musicals and for many Disney
characters. He was born in Johnson, Nebraska
and died in 1980 in Los Angeles
, California
, of a brain tumor
.
Lee was part of a popular singing quartet known as The Mellomen
. In The Jungle Book
s soundtrack, it was mistakened that fellow Melloman member, Thurl Ravenscroft
, provided the singing voice of Shere Khan in the song, "That's What Friends Are For
". However, Richard Sherman confirmed on the audio commentary on its 2007 DVD release, that it was Lee who provided Shere Khan's singing as George Sanders
, Khan's voice actor in the film, though an accomplished singer, was not available during the finalized recording of the song.
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
who provided a voice or singing voice in many films, for actors in musicals and for many Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
characters. He was born in Johnson, Nebraska
Johnson, Nebraska
Johnson is a village in Nemaha County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 280 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Johnson is located at ....
and died in 1980 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, of a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
.
Lee was part of a popular singing quartet known as The Mellomen
The Mellomen
The Mellomen were a popular singing quartet active from the late 1940s through the mid-1970s. The group was founded by Thurl Ravenscroft and Max Smith in 1948. The Mellomen recorded under a variety of names, including Big John & The Buzzards, The Crackerjacks, The Lee Brothers, and The Ravenscroft...
. In The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book (1967 film)
The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Released on October 18, 1967, it is the 19th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was inspired by the stories about the feral child Mowgli from the book of the same name by...
s soundtrack, it was mistakened that fellow Melloman member, Thurl Ravenscroft
Thurl Ravenscroft
Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft was an American voice actor and singer best known as the deep voice behind Tony the Tiger's "They're grrreat!" in Frosted Flakes television commercials for more than five decades. Ravenscroft was also known, however uncredited, as the vocalist for the song "You're a Mean...
, provided the singing voice of Shere Khan in the song, "That's What Friends Are For
That's What Friends Are For (The Vulture Song)
"That's What Friends Are For " is a song in the widely popular Walt Disney film The Jungle Book from 1967. It was sung by a quartet of "mop top" vultures who are making friends with the main character of the film. The song was written by Disney staff songwriters, Robert and Richard Sherman, and...
". However, Richard Sherman confirmed on the audio commentary on its 2007 DVD release, that it was Lee who provided Shere Khan's singing as George Sanders
George Sanders
George Sanders was a British actor.George Sanders may also refer to:*George Sanders , Victoria Cross recipient in World War I...
, Khan's voice actor in the film, though an accomplished singer, was not available during the finalized recording of the song.
Partial filmography
- Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland (1951 film)Alice in Wonderland is a 1951 American animated feature produced by Walt Disney and based primarily on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with a few additional elements from Through the Looking-Glass. Thirteenth in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film was released in New...
(1951) - a member of The Mellomen - Peter PanPeter Pan (1953 film)Peter Pan is a 1953 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie. It is the fourteenth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and was originally released on February 5, 1953 by RKO Pictures...
(1953) - Pirates (singing voice) - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) - Caleb Pontipee (singing voice)
- Lady and the TrampLady and the TrampLady and the Tramp is a 1955 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released to theaters on June 22, 1955, by Buena Vista Distribution. The fifteenth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, it was the first animated feature filmed in the CinemaScope widescreen...
(1955) - Dog, as a member of The Mellomen - South PacificSouth Pacific (film)South Pacific is a 1958 musical romance film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, and based on James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific...
(1958) - Lieutenant Joseph Cable (singing voice) - One Hundred and One DalmatiansOne Hundred and One DalmatiansOne Hundred and One Dalmatians, often abbreviated as 101 Dalmatians, is a 1961 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith...
(1961) - Roger (singing voice) - Gay Purr-eeGay Purr-eeGay Purr-ee is an animated film musical produced by United Productions of America and released by Warner Bros. in 1962. It features the voice talent of Judy Garland in her only animated-film role.- Plot:...
(1962) - Hench Cat (singing voice) - Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! is a 1964 American animated feature film produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and released by Columbia Pictures. The film stars the voices of Daws Butler, Don Messick, Julie Bennett, and Mel Blanc...
(1964) - Yogi Bear (singing voice) - Cinderella (1965) - Father
- Tom and JerryTom and JerryTom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
(1965–1972) - uncredited voice - The Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music (film)Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical film directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The film is based on the Broadway musical The Sound of Music, with songs written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and with the musical...
(1965) - Captain von Trapp (singing voice) - Thoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 American musical film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay by Richard Morris focuses on a naive young woman who finds herself in the midst of a series of madcap adventures when she sets her sights on marrying her wealthy boss.The...
(1967) - Trevor Graydon (singing voice) (uncredited) - The Jungle BookThe Jungle Book (1967 film)The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Released on October 18, 1967, it is the 19th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was inspired by the stories about the feral child Mowgli from the book of the same name by...
(1967) - Singing elephant, Shere Khan (singing voice) - Horton Hears a Who!Horton Hears a Who! (TV special)Horton Hears a Who! is a 1970 television half-hour long special based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name, Horton Hears a Who!. It was produced and directed by Chuck Jones - who previously produced the Seuss special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - for MGM Television...
(1971) - Wickersham Brother (singing voice) - The Hobbit (1977) - Goblin (singing voice)