In addition to being our feature performer during our annual FUNdraising event as Captain Music, Lee has now graciously agreed to sit on the board of The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project, Inc.  Lee and his family have been huge supporters of ours and we are very fortunate to have him on our board!

Lee has blended his professional music career of 26 years with his professional teaching career (over 17 years K-12th grade) to create Captain Music Inc. Lee began his career as a professional trumpet player in the NYC area. His experiences include touring Europe and the U.S. with the world-renowned Lionel Hampton Orchestra (a CD Lee had the good fortune to play on with Lionel was nominated for a Grammy in 1985). Lee also played trumpet for Natalie Cole, Maureen McGovern, The Shirelles, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra to name a few. Lee’s trumpet career came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a mini-stroke while performing with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus in the late 1980’s. Lee also had a successful teaching career and has spent 17 years teaching students in grades K-12. Not wanting to give up music or teaching, Lee put his two loves together and began writing fun and educational music for children. Within 3 months of making his decision to write music, he released his first CD, CHARACTER COUNTS…SO DO I©! which was selected OUTSTANDING by Parent Council. Lee has now moved into the music-writing business full time. He shares his music by presenting student assemblies, teacher workshops, motivational talks and concerts around the country.  Lee feels that the mini-stroke that he suffered was actually a blessing. He works in a unique field that he absolutely enjoys. Lee’s mission, through his music, is to help transform young people in their formative years into responsible, caring and accountable human beings.

• Voting Member, National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (The Recording Academy, GRAMMY Awards)

Discography

• Sentimental Journey, Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, 1984 GRAMMY NOMINATION for Best Big Band Album
• A Night On The Boulevard, Boulevard Big Band, 2000
• Character Counts…So Do I©!, Captain Music, 2000 Selected OUTSTANDING by Parent Council
• I Like To Wiggle©!, Captain Music, 2002
• A B Seas©!, Captain Music, 2004

Books and Other Publications

• Article, The Place of Popular Music in an Urban High School Music Program, Bandworld Magazine, April-May 1996, Vol. 11, No. 4
• Article, Hangin’ Out, Director Magazine, 1996, Vol. 3, No. 3-16
• Character Counts…So Do I! Song and Lesson Plan Book, Captain Music, 2000
• Character Counts…So Do I! The Musical, Captain Music, 2001
• Set Sail On The Sea Of Character! School-wide and Classroom Activities for the Elementary School Character Education Program, Captain Music, 2003

Visit Captain Music online at www.captainmusic.com