An accomplished saxophonist in the nationally renowned Joliet Township H.S. Band, Teddy Lee began
his professional music career by touring the United States with several "name" Big Bands from the
1930's through the mid 1950's beginning with the Mel Marvin Band.
The next and most formative chapter for Lee came when he was asked to join the great Ray Pearl
Band, which had for many years been a dancing hit from coast to coast. Pearl found Lee to be
instrumental to the future success of the band and asked him to arrange the music, direct the band
and of course blow his famous lead alto. Lee and Pearl were a formidable team, spending the next 10
years perfecting their craft and building the band's extremely danceable style of music. Pearl, who at
one point was courted by major movie studios, would ultimately end up publicly attacking then powerful
music union head Frank Petrillo. The feud over artist pay with the union stirred up controversy and
ended Pearl's music career in 1956. Following the breakup of the Pearl Band,Teddy toured for one year
with Wayne King, a musician Lee had always admired.
his professional music career by touring the United States with several "name" Big Bands from the
1930's through the mid 1950's beginning with the Mel Marvin Band.
The next and most formative chapter for Lee came when he was asked to join the great Ray Pearl
Band, which had for many years been a dancing hit from coast to coast. Pearl found Lee to be
instrumental to the future success of the band and asked him to arrange the music, direct the band
and of course blow his famous lead alto. Lee and Pearl were a formidable team, spending the next 10
years perfecting their craft and building the band's extremely danceable style of music. Pearl, who at
one point was courted by major movie studios, would ultimately end up publicly attacking then powerful
music union head Frank Petrillo. The feud over artist pay with the union stirred up controversy and
ended Pearl's music career in 1956. Following the breakup of the Pearl Band,Teddy toured for one year
with Wayne King, a musician Lee had always admired.
The History of the Teddy Lee Orchestra
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The Teddy Lee Orchestra was organized in
1958, when the owners of the Melody Mill
Ballroom in Riverside, IL asked him to start
his own band. On the spur of the moment,
Lee put together a new version of the old
Ray Pearl Band; now under his own name
(The Teddy Lee Orchestra), and using many
Pearl arrangements and several of his old
Pearl bandstand colleagues. Promising
only a two week engagement, the
popularity of the band was immediate,
changing two weeks into two months. From
1958 to 1990, Teddy Lee led his wonderful
orchestra as they performed at every major
Chicago Big Band and dance venue. The
band became one of the biggest name
orchestras in Chicagoland.
1958, when the owners of the Melody Mill
Ballroom in Riverside, IL asked him to start
his own band. On the spur of the moment,
Lee put together a new version of the old
Ray Pearl Band; now under his own name
(The Teddy Lee Orchestra), and using many
Pearl arrangements and several of his old
Pearl bandstand colleagues. Promising
only a two week engagement, the
popularity of the band was immediate,
changing two weeks into two months. From
1958 to 1990, Teddy Lee led his wonderful
orchestra as they performed at every major
Chicago Big Band and dance venue. The
band became one of the biggest name
orchestras in Chicagoland.
Teddy Lee Sr.
| Joliet Township H.S Band Sax Section - 1938 |
In 1990 Teddy Lee Jr. accepted the baton from his father, Teddy Lee, insuring the continuation of the
orchestra's great tradition. Teddy Lee Jr.'s musical career began at age eight studying piano, then
clarinet and saxophone. By nineteen he was performing and teaching professionally. In 1995 he was
recognized and inducted into the illustrious "American Band Masters Association" which had as a
member John Philip Sousa. Under Teddy Lee Jr.'s baton the orchestra continues to provide wonderful
music, great dancing and great times. Tthe Teddy Lee Orchestra has a history of providing them all to
Chicago for 50 years.
orchestra's great tradition. Teddy Lee Jr.'s musical career began at age eight studying piano, then
clarinet and saxophone. By nineteen he was performing and teaching professionally. In 1995 he was
recognized and inducted into the illustrious "American Band Masters Association" which had as a
member John Philip Sousa. Under Teddy Lee Jr.'s baton the orchestra continues to provide wonderful
music, great dancing and great times. Tthe Teddy Lee Orchestra has a history of providing them all to
Chicago for 50 years.
The current Teddy Lee Orchestra at the Willowbrook Ballroom
