Lee Gibson
This is a page about Lee Gibson. Information about Lee’s early career right up to the present day. Lee is a very talented and experienced musician and entertainer.
Drummer, Singer and Entertainer
Lee was born into a musical family and was surrounded by showbiz throughout his early life. He began playing at about eleven years, choosing a drum kit as his favoured instrument. It was drums, drums, always drums.
Turning Professional
Lee turned pro in the summer when he was fifteen years old. He met and joined with a much older pianist and as a duo they played pubs and clubs wherever they could get a gig. Lee played drums to the singing of the pianist.
Television
His television career includes a couple of episodes of Emmerdale that featured brass bands. He was also an extra, portraying a soldier, alongside the Sid Lawrence Orchestra.
Providing the beat, on drums, with various rock bands, Lee continued the tours of pubs and clubs in Yorkshire; being always in demand for his considerable talent. During his time as a member of Yeadon Old Brass Band he was flattered to be asked for his autograph.
Music College
Lee attended the City of Leeds Music College, but was only able to complete one year because demand for his talents meant the volume of work became too much. He has confessed that, with hindsight (that wonderful thing) he wishes he had completed the course – and so gained the additional skills that would have brought. However, what he lost to academia, his vast experience has replaced and surpassed.
When old enough Lee needed to get his driving licence. That would enable him to relieve his mum from forever driving him to gigs and residences seven nights a week; not to mention the considerable freelance work he was also undertaking.
Life on the Cruise Ships
The “glamour” of the Cruise Ships came to Lee in the form of M.S. Rotterdam, then brand new flagship of the Holland America Cruise Line. The Arctic Circle cruises each lasted a week, taking passengers, crew and entertainers to Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway and St Petersburg (where Lee went nightclubbing for light relief!). Each week would see M.S. Rotterdam tied up in Dover, disgorging its load of happy passengers and embarking next week’s eager holidaymakers. Lee found the twenty four hours daylight north of the Arctic Circle, in the Land of the Midnight Sun, unusual and a little difficult to get used to.
Then it was back to the round of pubs and clubs with his pianist partner, who was, at that time in his late 50’s/early 60’s. Lee is happy to say that in the music business there is no ageism, no sexism – in fact no ‘isms at all – just music!
Malcolm Robinson Trio
In the latter part of the twentieth century Lee, still in his mid twenties, met the gifted pianist Malcolm Robinson. Malcolm knew singer Nicola and introduced them. Between the three of them they decided to form a trio of pianist, drummer and singer which became known as The Malcolm Robinson Trio.
With The Malcolm Robinson Trio, Lee was kept very busy, filling two or three weekly residences and many gigs in pubs and clubs. They put together an audition CD and landed a contract to play aboard ships of The Holland America Cruise Line.
More about Lee Gibson
Some of the songs in the music selection (Route 66, Return To Me and the Making Whoopee medley) are from this period of Lee’s career and feature him on drums with Malcolm on piano and bass, backing Nicola’s singing.
Fascinating Rhythm
After the Malcolm Robinson Trio, Lee and Nicola were determined to bring their talents and bubbly, bouncy personalities to audiences throughout their native Yorkshire. Lee developed a wish be be a singer. Together with his own talents and a great deal of help from his, now well developed friendship with Nicola, they formed the duo that is Fascinating Rhythm. Throughout the first two decades of the twenty-first century they have entertained and captivated audiences in care homes, nursing homes, garden parties and caravan parks across Yorkshire.
Going Solo
In the last few years Lee has, alongside his career with Nicola and Fascinating Rhythm, developed a solo career, taking his remarkable voice to the clubs of Yorkshire and beyond. Singing under his stage name of Lee Morgan he is enjoyed by audiences of all ages. One memorable gig took him to Ingoldsmells near Skegness, where he sang to the end-of-season audiences of thousands, introducing the fireworks display while being positioned among the huge fireworks. Lee described the experience as being a “squeaky bum time”!
Into the Future
As a now, very experienced singer, Lee still has a hankering for his beloved drum kit. It would not be surprising to find him introducing them in some way to his performances in the near future.