Biography
Dawn Lee entered the world around 1973 in London, England. While still a teenager she launched her musical path, drawing early motivation from Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy, Bunny Wailer and Freddie McGregor. She first mastered bass guitar by playing along to records from her brother’s Jah Youth sound system in Forest Gate, east London. At school she became a member of the all-female band Equity with five classmates, taking the lead-guitar spot and supplying lead vocals. After the group dissolved she turned to solo work. Her playing and vocal ability caught the attention of Evelyn Maurius from the Women In Music collective, who asked her to construct rhythm tracks for the organisation in 1987. That collaboration prompted Lee to record her own rhythm tracks on acetates for the all-female sound system Gold Label as an expression of her feminist outlook. She also issued her first vinyl single, a condemnation of ‘Apartheid’, backed by MC Cinderella’s version of ‘Free Africa’. Heartened by the response, she prepared and cut her own demo recordings, which opened the door to a lovers-rock release. Her introduction to the style, the track ‘Six A.M.’, appeared via the Progressive Sounds collective in 1993. The song became a dancehall hit that brought her broader exposure on the UK reggae chart. Recognition followed, including the Best British Newcomer trophy at the Annual British Reggae Awards of 1994/5. Her professional reputation led to recording sessions with producer and former Reggae Regular guitarist Patrick ‘Chiki’ Donegan. She also shared stages with Shinehead, Half Pint and her acknowledged inspiration Freddie McGregor. Among the notable singles from this period were ‘Are You Ready’, ‘Man Look Good’, ‘Goldmine’, ‘Teach The Children’, ‘If I Ruled The World’, ‘Make Love’, ‘Melody Life’ and ‘Wanna Be Down’. In 1995 she released the advisory ‘Nah Go Down Deh’ with Jamaican DJ Superman (performing as Sandeeno), preceding Mr. Vegas’ similar commentary. Additional sessions took place with Lloyd ‘Musclehead’ Francis and Dennis Rowe of the south London-based Saxon Sound, yielding the track ‘Smile Awhile’, which reflected her earlier thoughtful approach. Her greatest achievement arrived in 1996 alongside producer Mykey Simpson, who had already overseen several of her successes. Together they issued ‘I’m Gonna Live Love’, a reworking of the ‘Danger In Your Eyes’ rhythm. Further hits ensued, among them ‘Don’t Give Up’, ‘Live Good’ and, in 1999, ‘Bigger Than Dat’. Her first album consisted of new lyrics set to classic Jamaican rhythms drawn from Fabian, Bob Marley, Horace Andy, Errol Dunkley and Augustus Pablo.