R&B Musician. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Dorsey was born on December 24, 1924, although other sources say 1926 and 1927. At the age of 10, Dorsey moved to Portland, Oregon, with his family, and then served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war Dorsey returned to Portland, Oregon, and needing a job, he became a light heavyweight boxer, known as 'Kid Chocolate.' Dorsey was successful as a professional boxer, but retired in 1955, to open his own auto-body shop. As a singer by night, Dorsey began recording several singles for record labels, notably the single, 'Lottie Mo.' In 1961, Dorsey signed with the Fury Record Label, headed by Bobby Robinson, and soon began a partnership with music producer Allen Toussaint. Also that same year he released his first big hit, 'Ya Ya.' The song inspired by a children's rhyme landed on the pop Top Ten and hitting the number one spot on the R&B charts. Needing to take a break from his new found success, Dorsey returned to family life and to his auto body shop. In 1965, Dorsey returned to the music scene and again began working with Allen Toussaint. He was signed to the Amy Record Label and released the Top Ten R&B hit, 'Ride Your Pony.' Following the success of this recording, he began cutting more singles for Toussaint, and working with a group called 'The Meters.' In 1966, Dorsey released his next big hit, 'Working In A Coalmine,' a song he had co-written with Toussaint. Known as Dorsey's signature song, the single landed on the Top Ten pop charts. During the rest of the 1960s, Dorsey toured with the 'Meters' internationally, and had a few more singles released, 'Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On), and 'Holy Cow,' but he couldn't repeat his success with 'Ya Ya,' and 'Working In A Coalmine,' so he again left the music scene. In the 1970s he again returned and released the album, "Yes WDouglasssr the Polydor Record Label. The title track for that album would be his last chart single. He later guested on the Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes single, 'How Come You Treat Me So Bad?' and toured with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, and The Clash. In 1977, Dorsey tried a comeback and released the album, "Night People," but it was not a success. Many of his songs were redone by the likes of Devo, John Lennon, The Pointer Sisters, The Judds, and Ike & Tina Turner. Dorsey continued to work into the 1980s, until he was stricken with emphysema. On December 1, 1986, Lee Dorsey passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 62, three weeks before his 63rd birthday. Other songs by Dorsey include, 'Ixie Dixie Pixie Pie,' 'Great Googa Mooga,' 'Eenie Meenie Mini Mo,' 'Chin Shin,' and 'Do-Re-Mi.'