Picture of bessie lee

**tiltman** · Oct-30-2006, 8:24pm

Hopefully some one can help me out here.
I'm a Veterinarian and I tend to give the little stray kitties that come through the clinic good bluegrass names (ie Carter, Ralph, Earl, Lester, unfortunately someone renamed Monroe "Sweetie Pie") before they go to their new homes.
Anyway, Bessie Lee will be coming in for an appointment later this week and I was wondering if someone could post a picture of her.
Thanks,
Kirk

**Scott Tichenor** · Oct-30-2006, 8:29pm

There she is on the left, The Carolina Songbird, Bessie Lee.

**tiltman** · Oct-30-2006, 8:46pm

That was Quick!!!
Thanks Scott,
Kirk

**45ACP-GDLF5** · Oct-30-2006, 8:53pm

Hey Scott,

Bill has his arm around who? Is that Bill's left you mean, or is that not Bessie lee? When did she pass away and how long was she and Bill married? Thanks!

**allenhopkins** · Oct-30-2006, 8:58pm

Bill has his arm around daughter Melissa; Bessie Lee is the blonde bass player. Although she and Monroe never married, he did have a child with her -- later the subject of a paternity suit.

Too bad we can't get one of Bessie Lee and Melissa "duking it out" outside the Opry in 1954-55...

Del looks a bit younger, doesn't he?

**Bobbie Dier** · Oct-30-2006, 9:05pm

Is that the first "Bluegrass Cruise"?

**evanreilly** · Oct-30-2006, 9:26pm

And Joe Stuart, I do believe, on Fiddle. And 'Brad'.

**cooper4205** · Oct-30-2006, 9:27pm

"Del looks a bit younger, doesn't he?"

his martin doesn't though, i wonder if he had good hair back then, too?

**45ACP-GDLF5** · Oct-30-2006, 9:52pm

Thanks Allen! I presume Melissa is not Bessie Lee's daughter? Is James Monroe Bessie Lee's son with Bill? Sorry for all the questions. I guess I figured Bill was married, I just have never known any details of his personal life. It is spooky how much James looks like his dad. When did Bessie Lee pass away and is Melissa still with us?

**cooper4205** · Oct-30-2006, 9:59pm

"I just have never known any details of his personal life."

you need to read "can't you hear me callin" monroe's bio, a must for any big mon fan

**evanreilly** · Oct-31-2006, 8:00am

James and Melissa are children from Bill's first wife, Carolyn Brown.
Melissa is deceased; James is, well.....

**SternART** · Oct-31-2006, 1:06pm

The bio books are a good read....but be prepared.... as ol' Bill, well lets just say he liked women.

**testore** · Oct-31-2006, 2:58pm

It would be great if anyone could find the daughter they had. As I understand she has never been located. She must only be in her 60's.

**cooper4205** · Oct-31-2006, 3:08pm

Originally Posted by (SternART @ Oct. 31 2006, 14:06)

The bio books are a good read....but be prepared.... as ol' Bill, well lets just say he liked women.

you could definately call him a Cat-Daddy

**Spruce** · Oct-31-2006, 3:47pm

Here's another...

**jim simpson** · Oct-31-2006, 5:08pm

"Too bad we can't get one of Bessie Lee and Melissa "duking it out" outside the Opry in 1954-55..." - allen hopkins

I believe the following picture was taken the night after that fight:

**f5loar** · Oct-31-2006, 10:57pm

Out of respect for his wife Carolyn, Bill never let Bessie play at the Opry using Opry staff bass players when he played there live during the Bessie Lee on bass years. He did fear a cat fight backstage. However being a band member she did record with Bill, travel on the bus(or in those days,car)with Bill and signed autographs and allowed photos like this one to be taken. Their illegitement daughter(Georiga Rose) has long been known and is alive and kickin' in the North Carolina area(where Bessie Lee was from). Bill liked his women rather "porky" too!

**evanreilly** · Nov-02-2006, 8:27am

I believe there was a fairly recent airing of a show on Campbell Mercer's 'Cumberland Highlanders' where both of James' and Melissa's half-sister and - brother came forward. Or was it at the Rosine festival? I wasn't there, but seem to remember the teevee show.

**evanreilly** · Nov-02-2006, 8:36am

Here is another picture of Bessie Lee and the BGB.
Bobby Hicks and Vassar on fiddles, I beleive, or Gordon Terry.

**bgmando** · Nov-02-2006, 5:30pm

Now that's a fine picture.

By the way, who is on banjo and guitar in this pic?

**f5loar** · Nov-02-2006, 7:55pm

That's Gordon Terry with Bobby Hicks on fiddles and looks like Bill Price on guitar and Noah Crase on banjo so that puts this photo between 1954 and 1956. I reserve the right to be corrected on this one!

**evanreilly** · Nov-02-2006, 9:39pm

I'll check with Bobby Hicks; he told me once who the other BGB were, but I disremembers....

**f5loar** · Nov-03-2006, 12:36am

You'll have to show him that photo. Hicks went through many changing of the instruments and Hicks was on banjo and bass too.

**f5loar** · Nov-03-2006, 12:40am

You'll have to show him that photo. Hicks went through many changing of the instruments and Hicks was on banjo and bass too. The 50's were very unstable for bluegrass boys especially after '56 when Elvis was hot. The banjo picker could be Jim Smoak. His glasses are throwing me!