From wikipedia…
Julia Lee (October 31, 1902 – December 8, 1958) was an
American blues and dirty blues musician.
Born in Boonville, Missouri,
United States, Lee was
raised in Kansas City, and began
her musical career around 1920, singing and playing piano in her brother George
Lee's band, which for a time also included Charlie Parker. She first recorded
on the Merritt record label in 1927 with Jesse Stone as pianist and arranger,
and launched a solo career in 1935.
In 1944 she secured a recording contract with Capitol
Records, and a string of R&B hits followed, including "Gotta Gimme
Whatcha Got" (#3 R&B, 1946), "Snatch and Grab It" (#1
R&B for 12 weeks, 1947, selling over 500,000 copies), "King Size
Papa" (#1 R&B for 9 weeks, 1948), "I Didn't Like It The First
Time (The Spinach Song)" (#4 R&B, 1949), and "My Man Stands
Out".
As these titles suggest, she became best known for her
trademark double entendre songs, or, as she once said, "the songs my
mother taught me not to sing". The records were credited to 'Julia Lee and
Her Boy Friends', her session musicians including Jay McShann, Vic Dickenson,
Benny Carter, Red Norvo, Nappy Lamare, and Red Nichols.
She was married to Frank Duncan, a star catcher and manager
of the Negro National League's Kansas City Monarchs. He, like Julia, was a
native of Kansas City.
Although her hits dried up after 1949, she continued as one
of the most popular performers in
Kansas City
until her death in
San Diego, California,
at the age of 56, from a heart attack.
Julia Lee v, p / Red Norvo xyl / Benny Carter as / Vic Dickenson tb / Red Nichols c / Dave Cavanaugh ts / Jack Marshall g / Red Callender sb / Baby Lovett d.
Recorded in Los Angeles on June 18, 1947.
