Lee Gates

Brice Lee Gates (December 20, 1937 – April 15, 2020) was an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. The cousin of fellow bluesman Albert Collins, Gates released three albums on the Music Maker label. Gates performed for almost sixty years, for the bulk of that time being resident in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Biography He was born the son of Brice and Inez Gates in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States. His mother supplied Gates with his first guitar when he was aged fourteen.

He moved to Milwaukee in 1959, whilst in his early twenties, Gates found employment with the house band at Wilson's Club in Milwaukee, and remained there for 15 consecutive years. Over the years Gates has performed across the Midwest, plus his traveling has led him to play in California, Kansas, Alabama, and in Europe. He also played alongside Sonny Boy Williamson II, who also lived in Milwaukee for a while. Touring with Lucy was his third album, with the said Lucy in both titles being the name of Gates guitar. Gates had reason to complain about the lack of opportunity to play at Summerfest. He noted in an interview on the matter that, "I don't get the credit I deserve here. I've been playing 50-something years. There's discrimination at Summerfest. I shouldn't need to have a CD out to be paid $700 at Summerfest. If they want you to have CDs, they should pay you like they pay the professional people".

Along the way, Gates played with Albert Collins and Hubert Sumlin, and was a regular weekly performer at the Six Points Pub in West Allis, Wisconsin. He was aged 82.

Discography Year Title Record label 2005 Lee Gates and the Alabama Cotton Kings Music Maker 2006 Black Lucy's DeuceMusic Maker 2006 Touring With LucyMusic Maker