Musician. Born Lee Chester Ulmer, for over half a century he was a guitar-vocalist and one of the last traditional Mississippi Delta bluesmen. He began his career at age 9, playing on the street for tips. For many years he performed as a twelve-piece one-man band, playing 12 instruments all at the same time. Through the 1950s, he played with artist to include Elvis Presley, Les Paul, Brook Benton, Nat King Cole, Fats Domino and Louis Armstrong, at the Motaurant in Holbrook, Arizona. He later performed on tours with blues legends Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf and Buddy Guy. He also performed across the country and internationally, at such venues as the King Biscuit Blues Festival, Mighty Mississippi Blues Festival, Holly Ridge Jam, Chicago Blues Festival and the Roots and Parma Blues Festival, Italy. Ulmer made many recordings which featured his unique slide guitar technique on both gospel and blues music. In 2008, he was featured in the documentary film, "M for Mississippi: A Road Trip through the Birthplace of the Blues" and was named Blues Artist of the Year by the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola, in 2009. He died of natural causes at age 87.
Musician. Born Lee Chester Ulmer, for over half a century he was a guitar-vocalist and one of the last traditional Mississippi Delta bluesmen. He began his career at age 9, playing on the street for tips. For many years he performed as a twelve-piece one-man band, playing 12 instruments all at the same time. Through the 1950s, he played with artist to include Elvis Presley, Les Paul, Brook Benton, Nat King Cole, Fats Domino and Louis Armstrong, at the Motaurant in Holbrook, Arizona. He later performed on tours with blues legends Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf and Buddy Guy. He also performed across the country and internationally, at such venues as the King Biscuit Blues Festival, Mighty Mississippi Blues Festival, Holly Ridge Jam, Chicago Blues Festival and the Roots and Parma Blues Festival, Italy. Ulmer made many recordings which featured his unique slide guitar technique on both gospel and blues music. In 2008, he was featured in the documentary film, "M for Mississippi: A Road Trip through the Birthplace of the Blues" and was named Blues Artist of the Year by the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola, in 2009. He died of natural causes at age 87.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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