Lee Sappho
South Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia | Established. Jan 01, 1996 | SELF
Music
Press
"Sappho is one hell of a Blues Momma. She write's great songs about real life...and sings 'em like she means it!"
DAVE HOLE, International Blues Artist
"This is one gutsy singer, one gutsy woman, with one hundred great funny stories and songs: I'm truly honoured to know her"
ROBYN ARCHER, International Performer/ Writer/ Adelaide Festival Director
"The earliest blues of the twentith century was dominated by the big Momma's - Ma Rainey & Bessie Smith. Lee Sappho carries on this fine tradition"
MATT TAYLOR, Father of/ and Australian Blues legend
"There is absolutley nothing like Lee Sappho live. She's one of those rare female singers who isn't afraid to belt out a song. When Sappho takes to the stage all the women stand tall with their shoulders back! Her CD, BIG GIRLS BLUES, is probably the best blues album by any Australian woman since Renee Geyer's 'Blues License' in the 70's."
MARSHAL MARTIN, Music Director, ABC Radio
"She's unbelievable!...watching Lee perform is like witnessing an updated cross between Mae West and Bessie Smith"
MIC CONWAY, Mic Conway's National Junk Band
"Her song-smith talents are as good as any that the best blues man could offer..."
DAVE RAY, 3PBS FM/ Beat Magazine
"...blues like these never go out of style."
JOSIE MITCHELL RTR FM
" Lee Sappho's music is very much like her. It's full of humour, real emotion, it's immediate and honest and it won't be mucked about."
POLLY COUFOS, XPress Magazine
"Who said girl's can't sing the blues?"
CHRIS THOMAS, Sunday Times
"If you haven't heard Lee Sappho sing, you don't belong on the planet!"
GRANT WOODHAMS, ABC Radio
"Blues really rings my bell. Nothing can turn me on like the blues"
LEE SAPPHO - Assorted Publishers
Discography
Big Bad Momma (1994)
Big Girls Blues (1996)
Lake Of Bass/ Wildlife Researcher LP - featured artist (2003)
Capital City/ Bad Money LP - backing vocals (2007)
Photos
Bio
Lee Sappho is the real deal. Bold and brassy, she has truly lived her life and sings of it in blues-diva style. Once her style has gotten hold of you, there’s no turning back or gettin’ out.
Australia's tattooed Amazonian Blues singer/songwriter Lee Sappho first gained recognition upon the release her first demo, Big Bad Momma, which sold out twice before her debut album, the award-winning Big Girls Blues was unveiled in 1996. It’s a release that continues to sell strongly and still enjoys regular airplay.
Lee’s broad appeal extends to a whole new generation of blues lovers, through to parents and grandparents and emanates from the warmth and sheer candour of her performance. She is open, honest and completely accessible, with a charming, commanding stage presence and an infectious, obvious love of the blues.
Lee has been invited to support international artists John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite and the late, great Johnny Johnson and has also been special guest with Matt Taylor (Chain), guitar legend Dave Hole (who has performed one of her original numbers) and Sydney's fabulous Foreday Riders.
Other notable performances include many invitations to Blues At Bridgetown, Perth Festival Club in 1996 and ‘98 and a riotous reception at the Adelaide Festival Club in 2000. An avid supporter of musicians and live music from 1996-2000 Lee was co-president of the Musicians’ Union.
She inspired and headlined the Mundaring Weir Blues In The Night concert series from 2000-03 and performed numerous other blues events including Fremantle’s Fly By Night Club for Spoonful Of Blues festivals, among many others.
Aside from performing Lee also coordinated and MC’d the Harp Attack series of shows from 1999-2001. A board member of the Perth Jazz Society for some years, Lee put together one of their acclaimed annual Women In Jazz performances. An invitation by RTR FM to present the program, Spoonful Of Blues, gave Lee’s vast blues knowledge ample opportunity to spread the word to her large listening audience over five years. This period saw her interview many visiting blues artists including Junior Wells, John Hammond and Leo Kotke. Lee was also guest presenter with ABC local radio from 1999 to 2003.
An amazing offer came from Deckchair Theatre in 1997 when Lee was asked to co-write her life story with internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter, Robyn Archer. Sappho Sings The Blues enjoyed sell-out performances and rave reviews and Lee is still stopped in the street by people who saw the production and were still moved by her performance.
Lee Sappho’s oeuvre is definitely in keeping with the sassy take-no-prisoners tradition of all good women’s blues. Her band includes the nationally acclaimed guitarist Dave Brewer (Catholics, Mighty Reapers), harp-man Mark Constable (Pushrods), bassist John Wilson (Dave Hole), and drummer Angus Diggs (too many to mention) making up one hell of a band - and one hell of a sound. Combined with Ms Sappho - this is one class act and you are guaranteed one hell of a time!
Call her what you will – the Big Bad Momma Of The Blues, the Diva In A Fishtail Skirt, or the Queen Bee – Lee Sappho is blues incarnate. The real deal with a sassy feel.
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