DJ Hairy Larry Presents Joe Lee Playing Tuxedo Junction
From The Archives Of Something Blue – 2025-11-23
Joe Lee – Tuxedo Junction
Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a function at the junction. And that’s “Tuxedo Junction”.
“Tuxedo Junction” was a number one hit for Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1940. The song was introduced by Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra in 1939 so that’s going back 86 years. When Joe Lee played it at Blues Fest in 1998 it was only 59 years old. Time flies when you’re making music.
The song was covered by The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Frankie Avalon, Joe Jackson, Stan Kenton, and Manhatten Transfer. That’s the definition of a standard.
Joe’s live version is a tight rendition. Joe plays the head on tenor sax and Kenny Caldwell plays guitar counterpoint on the bridge. Joe takes the first solo with the counterpoint on the bridge again. Kenny takes the second solo with Joe playing a little bit on the last eight. Then they share the head out ending just before the bridge.
It’s sweet!
Kenny Caldwell played in Jonesboro for years. Joe lee was born in Mississippi. He was a session man in Memphis. He taught band at Trumann, Arkansas, while recording hits at Fernwood in Memphis. Then he started his Alley Records label in Jonesboro and the rest is history.
We also heard Tom Mason on bass and David Carter, drums.
So now, here’s the Joe Lee Combo playing “Tuxedo Junction” recorded at Blues Fest on September 5, 1998.
Joe Lee With Scotty Moore And Bill Black At Fernwood
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Joe Lee on Delta Musicians
deltaboogie.com/deltamusicians/leej/
Alley Record Co. On Delta Boogie
deltaboogie.com/alleyrecords/
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And that’s Joe Lee and Kenny Caldwell playing “Tuxedo Junction” at Blues Fest 98. Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00, to here more Joe Lee, The B3 Kings, and John Shepherd.
And that’s Joe Lee and Kenny Caldwell playing “Tuxedo Junction” at Blues Fest 98. Don’t miss Something Blue, tonight at 10:00, to here more Joe Lee, The B3 Kings, and John Shepherd.
John Shepherd
DJ Hairy Larry With E.C. Brown And Joe Lee Playing Memphis Underground
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This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Joe Lee, The B3 Kings, and John Shepherd. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
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