Lee began playing the bass as a hobby while at Philly’s Overbrook High School. His primary instrument then was the trumpet. However, the bass won him over and before he graduated from Overbrook, Lee was playing gigs on the weekend. After his first year at West Chester University, Lee toured and recorded with Philly’s Delphonics, Blue Magic, and Billy Paul.

Then he moved to New York in 1977 to work with the great Latino percussionist, Mongo Santamaria, which included touring in the US, Europe and South America, and recording 5 albums, one being the Grammy award-winning album Amanecer. While living in New York, this exceptional bassist worked with such legends as Cedar Walton, Slide Hampton, and Leon Thomas, as well as recorded with Roberta Flack. Lee has also performed with many Philadelphia artists, including Shirley Scott, Mickey Roker, Bootsie Barnes, Trudy Pitts and Mr. "C."