Captain Music

Lee began his career as a professional trumpet player in the NYC area. His experiences include touring Europe and the U.S. with the world-renowned Lionel Hampton Orchestra (a CD Lee had the good fortune to play on with Lionel was nominated for a grammy in 1985). Lee also played trumpet for Natalie Cole, Maureen McGovern, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra to name a few.

Lee's trumpet career came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a mini-stroke while performing with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus in the late 1980’s. Concurrently, he began his teaching career and was able to pour himself into working with the students while he was silently suffering within. The highlight of his teaching career occurred while he was instructing an urban high school band in New Jersey from 1991 through 1998. He developed a successful music program at the school when no one believed it could be done. The result of this program was taking this group of students to Disney World to perform in The Electric Light Parade. Lee actually uses this story in some of his motivational workshops that he delivers at schools and conferences around the country.

Lee and his family made a life-changing decision to move to Florida in 1998 where he was offered a teaching job in an elementary school. He had not worked in elementary schools for a number of years and he had some reservations but family came first so he jumped enthusiastically into the elementary music program.

Lee still had not put his trumpet playing to rest. He attempted over the years to rehabilitate himself to no avail. He was taking lessons with a great professor at the University of Central Florida in the hope to play professionally again. However, the professor determined that Lee should see a neurologist because everything Lee was doing was picture perfect. That was when the mini-stroke was finally determined.

Lee had two choices... to give up music or to put his two loves together. He began writing original music. Not just children's music but music for all to enjoy. He collaborated with his daughter, Amy R. Parker, an educator herself, and within 3 months of making his decision to write music, they had their first CD. This CD was selected OUTSTANDING by Parent Council.

Lee has now moved into the music-writing business full time. He and Amy are on their 3rd CD collaboration. They also have developed two teaching manuals for the classroom and a musical and are in the process of writing other books and manuals. Lee travels around the country delivering assemblies, teacher workshops and motivational talks.

Lee believes a divine guidance has placed him in the children's music business and he feels very blessed to be working in a field he absolutely enjoys!

Character Counts... So Do I! Explores character issues through original musical stories that make kids think about why good character is important. Students are put in real life situations that are relevant to their lives. Elected OUTSTANDING by Parent Council and recommended by B. David Brooks, author of the widely acclaimed "Lessons in Character" curriculum. CD Price: $14.97

I Like to Wiggle! This CD is a GREAT ENERGIZER to begin any lesson. Children, ages 1-12 will discover new ways to move around and have fun! By using their imagination, children will visit swamps, jungles, the circus, beaches and the Land Down Under. I Like To Wiggle! features the popular Dalmatian Disco! So "Bark it Down!" CD Price: $14.97

A B Seas Join Captain Music and his crew, CG (C. Gull)©, Stuart D. Dolphin© and Belle©, as they set sail on a learning adventure down by the sea. Kids ages 2-10 will have a great time splashing around in the A B Seas as they learn the importance of vowels, how to make a blend, and what to do when letters make more than one sound. At the same time, they will be expanding their vocabulary, courtesy of our own genius mammalis, Stuart D. Dolphin. CD Price: $14.97