Royden Dickey Lipscomb (born 21 September 1936),
known professionally as Dickey Lee (sometimes misspelled Dickie Lee or Dicky
Lee), is an American pop/country singer and songwriter, best known for the
1960s teenage tragedy songs "Patches" and "Laurie (Strange
Things Happen)."
Lee made his first recordings in his hometown of
Memphis for Tampa Records and Sun Records in 1957-58. He achieved his first
chart success in 1962, when his composition "She Thinks I Still Care"
was a hit for George Jones (covered by Elvis Presley, Connie Francis, Leon
Russell and later Anne Murray as "He Thinks I Still Care").
Later
that year, "Patches," written by Barry Mann and Larry Kobler and
recorded by Lee for Smash Records, rose to No. 6. The song tells in waltz-time
the story of teenage lovers of different social classes whose parents forbid
their love. The girl drowns herself in
the "dirty old river." The
singer concludes: "It may not be right, but I'll join you tonight/ Patches
I'm coming to you." Because of the teen suicide theme, the song was banned
by a number of radio stations. However, it sold over one million copies, and
was awarded a gold disc.
Lee had a No. 14 hit in 1963 with a song he
co-wrote, a conventional rocker, "I Saw Linda Yesterday." In 1965, he
returned to teen tragedy with "Laurie (Strange Things Happen)," a
song related to the urban legends known as the vanishing hitchhiker and
Resurrection Mary.
After the 1960s, Lee devoted his efforts to country
music performing and song writing. His 1970s country hits as a singer include
"Never Ending Song of Love," "Rocky" (another bitter-
sweet
song, written by Jay Stevens of Springfield, MO - a.k.a. Woody P. Snow),
"Angels, Roses, and Rain," and "9,999,999 Tears." He also
co-wrote several songs with Bob McDill, including "Someone Like You"
(by Emmylou Harris) and "The Door is Always Open" (by several
artists, most notably by Dave and Sugar).
sweet
song, written by Jay Stevens of Springfield, MO - a.k.a. Woody P. Snow),
"Angels, Roses, and Rain," and "9,999,999 Tears." He also
co-wrote several songs with Bob McDill, including "Someone Like You"
(by Emmylou Harris) and "The Door is Always Open" (by several
artists, most notably by Dave and Sugar).
He co-wrote the 1994 Tracy Byrd hit "The Keeper
of the Stars," and has written or co-written songs for a number of other
prominent country artists, including George Strait, Charley Pride, and Reba
McEntire.
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall
of Fame in 1995. Lee is included as co-writer and singer on singer-songwriter
Michael Saxell's 2005 album Wonky Windmill on the song "Two Men". (Info Wikipedia)
