Jackie Lee

Jackie Lee (born Jacqueline Norah Flood; 29 May 1936) is an Irish popular music singer, who has recorded under various stage names.

Career Lee was a musical child prodigy. She won a scholarship and trained as a soprano for four years. Upon finishing her studies she became a vocalist with the top showbands playing prestigious Irish venues.

Lee experienced similar success when she moved to London and joined the popular dance band The Squadronaires. In 1955 her first solo record was released, followed by a further two the next year. From 1959 to 1964, Lee was a member of The Raindrops, Her definitive version was named the best TV theme tune of all time in The Penguin TV Companion (2001–2011). Her jazz-styled album of the same name was also released in 1968, which included contributions from Dudley Moore as pianist. By 1970, 'Jacky' reverted to 'Jackie Lee' and had another hit record, "Rupert" from the TV show based on the famous cartoon character, Rupert Bear (inaccurately referred to as "Rupert the Bear" in the song's lyrics). This recording also had a place in the "Best TV themes of all time" list from The Penguin TV Companion at Number 7, further consolidating Lee's latter-day reputation. A tie-in album, Jackie's Junior Choice, was released on Pye Records (PKL 5503) in 1971, followed by the similar Rupert and Other Junior Favourites on Pye's budget Golden Guinea label (GSGL 10492) in 1973, which also included her recording of another children's series theme, Inigo Pipkin.

It was shortly after this that she retired from singing, due to vocal complications and throat problems. Nonetheless, her singing continues to be held in high regard. It has been said that her work has "firmly embedded itself in the subconscious of a generation".

A CD entitled End of a Rainbow – A Pye Anthology was released in 2007. It comprising all of Lee's later recordings, made for Pye Records between 1969 and 1973. A second CD, The Town I Live In (2009), collects all of her 1966/1967 recordings for EMI. Lee is now retired and resides in Canada. Her husband, Liam Hopkins, died in 2018.

Solo discography Studio albums White Horses Philips BL7851 [mono] / SBL7851 [stereo] 1968 "On the Outskirts of Paree" (1956) "One More Mountain" (1971) "Johnny Said Come Over" (1971) "Peter Pan" (1971) "Sleep" (1972) "Friends With You" (1972) "Inigo Pipkin" (1972) "You Make My Head Spin" (1973)