NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Bill Lee, a well-regarded jazz musician who accompanied such artists as Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel and Harry Belafonte as well as scoring four of his son Spike鈥檚 early films, including the hit 鈥淒o the Right Thing鈥 and two songs for "Jungle Fever," has died. He was 94.
Lee died Wednesday at his home in Brooklyn, said Theo Dumont, a publicist for Spike Lee. The younger Lee posted several photos of his father on his Instagram page announcing the death.
Lee was a session bassist who has played on albums by Odetta, Woody Guthrie, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, John Lee Hooker and Peter, Paul and Mary, among many others. He can be heard on Dylan鈥檚 鈥淚t鈥檚 All Over Now, Baby Blue鈥 and Lightfoot鈥檚 鈥淥h, Linda.鈥 He played on Aretha Franklin鈥檚 Columbia album debut in 1960, 鈥淎retha.鈥
Lee wrote the soundtracks to Spike Lee's 鈥淪he鈥檚 Gotta Have It,鈥 鈥淪chool Daze,鈥 鈥淒o the Right Thing鈥 and 鈥淢o鈥 Better Blues." Bill Lee also appeared in 鈥淒o the Right Thing.鈥 Terence Blanchard took over the role starting with 鈥淛ungle Fever.鈥
Bill Lee and Spike Lee were estranged after a falling out in the 1990s that the father attributed to his remarriage to Susan Kaplan.
In addition to Kaplan and Spike Lee, the elder Lee is survived by his sons, David, Cinque and Arnold; a daughter Joie; a brother, A. Clifton Lee; and two grandchildren.
