Sonny Lee
American trombonist
About Sonny Lee
Lived 1904 – 1975 (aged 70). Sonny Lee was an American trombonist.
Thomas Ball "Sonny" Lee (August 26, 1904, Huntsville, Texas – May 17, 1975, Amarillo, Texas) was an American jazz trombonist.
Lee played with Peck Kelley while a student at Texas State Teachers' College in the early 1920s, then moved to St. Louis, where he worked with the Scranton Sirens, Frankie Trumbauer, Gene Rodemich, Vincent Lopez, and Paul Specht. In 1932 he joined the Isham Jones orchestra, remaining with Jones until 1936; concomitantly he also played with Benny Goodman in 1934-35. He then worked with Artie Shaw, Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman, and Bunny Berigan, and in 1938 joined Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra, where he played until 1946.
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Important facts
People in Sonny Lee's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Sonny Lee's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Sonny Lee?
American trombonist (1904-1975)
When was Sonny Lee born?
Sonny Lee was born on 26 August 1904 in Huntsville.
When did Sonny Lee die?
Sonny Lee died on 17 May 1975 in Amarillo.
What was Sonny Lee's occupation?
Sonny Lee was a trombonist.
What nationality was Sonny Lee?
Sonny Lee was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sonny Lee. https://biography.guide/sonny-lee/
MLA: "Sonny Lee." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sonny-lee/.
Chicago: "Sonny Lee." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sonny-lee/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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