Bill Lee (singer)
| Bill Lee | |
|---|---|
|
Bill Lee in Cinderella (1965) | |
| Born |
August 21, 1916 Johnson, Nebraska |
| Died |
November 15, 1980 (aged 64) Los Angeles, California |
Cause of death | Brain tumor |
| Occupation | Playback singer |
Bill Lee (21 August 1916 – 15 November 1980) 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 like his dancing colleague Bobby Van 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 mistakenly assumed that fellow Melloman member, Thurl Ravenscroft, provided the singing voice of Shere Khan in the song, "That's What Friends Are For".[1] However, Richard Sherman confirmed on the audio commentary on its 2007 DVD release, that it was Bill Lee who provided Shere Khan's singing as George Sanders, Shere Khan's voice actor, though an accomplished singer, was not available during the finalized recording of the song.[2]
Lee also provided the singing voice for Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music.[3]
Partial filmography
- Alice in Wonderland (1951) - Card Painter, a member of The Mellomen
- Peter Pan (1953) - Pirates (singing voice)
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) - Caleb Pontipee (singing voice)
- Lady and the Tramp (1955) - Dog, as a member of The Mellomen
- South Pacific (1958) - Lieutenant Joseph Cable (singing voice)
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) - Roger (singing voice)
- Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961) - Quatro/Prince Charming (singing voice)
- Gay Purr-ee (1962) - Hench Cat (singing voice)
- Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964) - Yogi Bear (singing voice)
- Mary Poppins (1964) - Ram (singing voice)
- Cinderella (1965) - Father
- Tom and Jerry (1965–1972) - uncredited voice
- The Sound of Music (1965) - Captain von Trapp (singing voice)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) - Trevor Graydon (singing voice) (uncredited)
- The Jungle Book (1967) - Singing elephant
- Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) - Honeypot Quartet, as a member of The Mellomen
- Horton Hears a Who! (1971) - Wickersham Brother (singing voice)
- The Hobbit (1977) - Goblin (singing voice)
References
- ↑ Hischak, Thomas (September 21, 2011). Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 240. ISBN 978-0786462711. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- ↑ Richard Sherman (2007). The Jungle Book audio commentary. The Jungle Book, Platinum Edition, Disc 1.
- ↑ "The Unsung Overdub Star In 'Sound Of Music'". Weekend Edition Saturday. NPR News. November 24, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
External links
- Bill Lee at the Internet Movie Database
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