Website Owner: Diann Wehmeyer Tooley - All contents of this website are generously shared to all who visit.
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Website Owner: Diann Wehmeyer Tooley - All contents of this website are generously shared to all who visit. |
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Tex Lee Who was he? This was not a tall man and known to have red hair. he was a country musician who apparently traveled around. He is remembered to have been a guitar player. It is not known if this is his "stage name" or first and middle name or first and last name. This is what we are trying to research. He may have been born about 1903-1904. In 1944-1945, Tex Lee was in the Houston, Harris Co., TX area. He did some recording at a recording studio. The woman he was involved with at the time had accompanied him to this studio. Name of the studio and exact address is not known. He also was playing a guitar at the time and performed in concerts. This woman had a daughter, Patricia, by the end of 1945 but Tex Lee never knew he was the father of this Patricia. He had apparently moved on. He was about 25 years older than this woman, who was very young. Patricia was placed in a home after birth and was adopted. Patricia located her birth mother about 10 years ago and over the years has made an effort to gather more information about her birth father, Tex Lee. A photo was located at the Kansas City, Missouri Library of a man known as Tex Lee. It is believed this man may be the father Patricia. Patricia is looking for more information about her father. Being that he was born around 1903, he is probably deceased but may have settled down over the years and had a family. Perhaps he had siblings. In order not to break any copyright laws, please view the photo of Tex Lee The photographer of this photo died in 1963. The library purchased this photo. Bobby Bowman lives in Cypress, TX and has some knowledge of the Houston, TX area music history. He was contacted and he offered a name of a recording studio and street that is was on back in that time period. The above photo was taken in 1955, 10 years after Patricia's birth. The sign on the car states he was from Hollywood, CA and was a radio and TV star. So far, no one in that area has been able to dig up anything on Tex Lee. The "Y" Drive In Restaurant was in business in 1956, according to a city directory. It was located at 3033-3035 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, MO. The proprietors were Melvin and Irvin S. Joffe. The businesses near 76th and
Troost Ave. included: Brookings Montgomery befriended
many western performers; it could be that he knew Lee and was somehow involved
in promoting the show. Also, because of Kansas City's "cowtown" history, it has
traditionally attracted western shows and entertainers. The research was sent to Patricia by the Kansas City Library. In 1965, other information on the "Y" is No 1 - 7547 Troost JA3-9051 (Nothing here any more) No 2 - 12120 South 71 Hiway SO1-0065 a clothing business named Match 1 This man and his cowgirls had to be registered as taxpayers or something, but so far nothing has been found. Patricia has contacted the Los Angeles, CA library system and offered to get a library card so she could do some research. But, she has to apply for a card in person! Living in Texas, this seems a bit of trouble to drive all the way to CA to get a card. It was suggested to Patricia that she contact Herb Remington. He lives in Houston, TX and it was believed that perhaps he may have heard of Tex Lee. He came to Houston, TX in 1949 and never heard of Tex Lee. He called a friend of his, Clyde Brewer, who also never heard of Tex Lee. Clyde is a local musician historian. Patricia's birth mother said she believed Tex Lee was from east Texas. But neither of us has been able to locate anything. Without a real name, this search is tedious. I tend to believe Tex Lee either changed his name over the years, may have joined a band and used his real name or he just did not make it in the music industry. Patricia's search is now on a Tex L. James born 1904 MO. He is found in an OK census, being in the military and also this man died in 1968 OK. Perhaps she can locate descendants of this man and see what more she can learn. This man may not be her birth father. She won't know until she learns more about him. Apparently Patricia's birth mother was a yodeler and singer. Patricia was given a name at birth, per her birth certificate. Apparently her adoptive parents changed her name. |
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Website last updated Monday January 05, 2009
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