Leslie was born in Los Angeles, California and there she developed a love/hate relationship for jazz, but Leslie has jazz in her DNA thanks to her father’s musical genes. During Leslie’s formative years he was a jazz radio DJ and singer who played piano and vibes day and night driving the family crazy. You can’t escape a good thing. Leslie began singing professionally, in New York after finding twenty dollars on the street, and then stopping to have a drink with friends. While having that celebratory drink with friends, the piano player asked her to sit in with the band. This request has taken Leslie Bee around the world. After singing weekly at the Tribeca Bar & Grill, within three months she was singing before the Prime Minister of East Berlin; behind the Iron Curtain and touring Prague, France and Italy’s jazz clubs.
Leslie returned to LA and performed at many of the top jazz venues in Southern California. Leslie was the vocalist for the Sunday jazz brunch at the world renowned Howard Rumsey’s “Lighthouse” in Hermosa Beach. International jazz bassist Henry (Skipper) Franklin took interest in Leslie’s versatility and became a positive influence on her jazz styling. Henry booked Leslie on a three month engagement in Japan.
More recently, Ms Bee traveled to Barcelona, Spain two days before 9/11. Her destiny was chosen. With the fear of terrorism and no flights, to the United States for a month, Leslie hired a translator and started sitting in at jazz clubs. She began meeting musicians from around the world and landed some of the best gigs in the country. Leslie Bee became a hit in Spain. She performed at some of Spain’s preeminent festivals and concert halls. Leslie Bee continued to make her name known, while impressing fans and critics.
She secured opening dates with Toots Thiemann at the Marbella Jazz Festival and toured clubs and concert halls, with her own trio and quartet. Leslie was also booked for two months at the Barcelona Casino. During that time, Leslie worked with Spain’s most renowned big band, Loco Motora Negra in Spain’s famous Palau de la Musica and La Auditori to sold-out audiences night after night, it was a thrill.
Leslie returned to LA and performed at many of the top jazz venues in Southern California. Leslie was the vocalist for the Sunday jazz brunch at the world renowned Howard Rumsey’s “Lighthouse” in Hermosa Beach. International jazz bassist Henry (Skipper) Franklin took interest in Leslie’s versatility and became a positive influence on her jazz styling. Henry booked Leslie on a three month engagement in Japan.
More recently, Ms Bee traveled to Barcelona, Spain two days before 9/11. Her destiny was chosen. With the fear of terrorism and no flights, to the United States for a month, Leslie hired a translator and started sitting in at jazz clubs. She began meeting musicians from around the world and landed some of the best gigs in the country. Leslie Bee became a hit in Spain. She performed at some of Spain’s preeminent festivals and concert halls. Leslie Bee continued to make her name known, while impressing fans and critics.
She secured opening dates with Toots Thiemann at the Marbella Jazz Festival and toured clubs and concert halls, with her own trio and quartet. Leslie was also booked for two months at the Barcelona Casino. During that time, Leslie worked with Spain’s most renowned big band, Loco Motora Negra in Spain’s famous Palau de la Musica and La Auditori to sold-out audiences night after night, it was a thrill.
