Lee Sappho
At the age of 32, tattooed Amazonian blues singer/song-writer Lee Sappho was a late starter to the blues. Within two short years, her first recording ‘Big Bad Momma’ had sold out and numerous performances made her a force to be reckoned with on the local and national blues scene. By 1996, Lee was recording at Planet Studio with such blues luminaries as Phil Manning (guitar), Bob Patient (keys), Howie Smallman (harp), Ric Whittle (drums) and Roy Daniel (bass). Entitled ‘Big Girls Blues’, this independent release won a WA Blues Awards and received numerous nominations. Featuring 12 original tracks, it enjoyed regular airtime on ABC radio and Blues and Roots programs across the nation and its sale reached an unprecedented high for a local release. Lee has supported international visiting artists John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite, the late Johnny Johnson and has been a special guest with Matt Taylor (Chain) and Dave Hole, when Dave performed one of her original numbers. Other notable performances include many invitations to Blues at Bridgetown, Perth Festival Club, the riotous Adelaide Festival Club, Sydney’s Foreday Riders 2001, headlining numerous blues events at Fremantle’s Fly By Night Club, coordinating and comparing ‘Harp Attack’ in 1999, 2000 and 2001, inspiring the Mundaring Weir Concert Series in 1998 with her annual ‘Blues in the Night’ events. Lee was co-president of the Musicians Union from 1996 to 2000 and has been a board member of the Perth Jazz Society, coordinating their annual Women in Jazz performance. She has worked with RTRFM for five years, presenting their Spoonful of Blues program, and also presented a weekly guest spot on ABC local radio from 1999 to 2003. In 1997 Deckchair Theatre’s play Sappho Sings the Blues received rave reviews. She has received numerous WAMI awards and nominations for band, vocals, and songwriting.
