Lee Gaines(1914-1987)

Composer, songwriter ("Take the 'A' Train", "One O'Clock Jump"), singer and author Otho Lee Gaines was born in Buena Vista (near Houston), Mississippi and studied at Langston University, where he was involved in music programs. With the Delta Rhythm Boys, he appeared on radio and in South American tours, later acting in the Broadway musicals "Sing Out The News", "Hot Mikado" and "Hellzapoppin" as well as in films. By 1949, he was making annual tours of Europe, Israel, North Africa, Japan and Canada. Joining ASCAP in 1949, his musical collaborators included Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and some of his other compositions include "Just Squeeze Me", "Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin'", "9:20 Special", "Hello, Goodbye, Forget It" and others.