Willie Tee

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Willie Tee, a New Orleans singer, songwriter and producer, was born Wilson Turbinton on February 6, 1944, into a musical family. His brother is the saxophonist Earl Turbinton.

He first achieved success in 1965 with the single "Teasin' You" b/w "Walking Up a One Way Street," which was recorded for the Nola label and distributed by Atlantic Records. The single made it to #12 on the R&B charts that year, and was followed later in 1965 by another recording, "Thank You John," which did not chart, perhaps due to its subject matter--drugs and prostitution. Alex Chilton recorded a version of "Thank You John" in the 1980s.

Willie Tee moved to the Capitol Records label later in the decade, and also recorded for United Artists Records. Since the 1970s he has worked mainly as a producer for groups such as the Wild Magnolias.

Although never a hugely popular recording artist, Tee was a favorite of beach music fans in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia during the 1960s and remains a firm favourite amongst Northern Soul fans.