A pianist by chance
James Lee was not only a pianist and singer, but also an accompanist at Bishop A. A. Childs' Evangelistic Temple COGIC. Renowned music historian Anthony Heilbut even described him as the “first male soprano of gospel,” underscoring his exceptional vocal talent.
Lee was known for his distinctive “two-finger piano style.” Although he was a gifted musician, his singing voice suffered considerably in later years. Mahalia Jackson attributed this to his “screaming” and warned other singers not to ruin their voices in a similar way. Lee also suffered a nervous breakdown that prevented him from singing and traveling.
The musical partnership with Mahalia Jackson
James Lee was more than just a colleague; he was a frequent musical collaborator and friend of Mahalia Jackson. Their musical connection was profound: Lee often sang duets with Mahalia.
A remarkable anecdote illustrates their spontaneous collaboration:
On the night Mahalia arrived in Brooklyn, Lee, who actually wanted to be a singer rather than a pianist, was immediately called to her beauty salon to take part in a recording session because other musicians had failed to show up. This improvisation led to the recording of the famous song “Move On Up a Little Higher,” which they had both learned from Reverend Brewster. The record was completed in the early hours of the morning after a full day of rehearsals.
Lee also witnessed some unconventional methods during recording sessions, where “supervisors” brought alcohol to loosen up other singers – a practice that was unthinkable with Mahalia Jackson. However, he noticed that Mahalia allowed the others to do their own thing, and what they did was their business.
Another unforgettable moment was Lee's experience during a performance of “Prayer Changes Things” at Washington's Uline Stadium, where he was overcome by emotion, let out a cry, and fainted.
They also shared special moments off stage. Mahalia Jackson smiled as she recounted how Lee prepared a gumbo that Bill Russell loved, even though Mahalia played it down and said that James just wanted to choose the ingredients he liked. It was also James Lee who introduced Mahalia Jackson to the East for the first time, a decisive step in her career.
James Lee always emphasized the essential role of gospel conventions. For him, they were the central mechanism through which soloists, quartets, and gospel groups introduced themselves to church congregations nationwide in order to secure future engagements. This underscores his deep connection to the structure and growth of the gospel music scene.