Arthur Lee

Arthur and his band Love were the first rock band ever signed to Elektra records back in 1966.

A fact reinforcing the idolization Jimi Hendrix had for Arthur Lee is that when Hendrix was found deceased, in his record collection was a copy of Loves second album Da Capo from 1967.

After filming for the Gordon Parks Jr. directed Thomasine and Bushrod, Arthur sold his then home to his good friend Max Julien.

Was to form a group called Band-Aid in 1971 with Jimi Hendrix, Steve Winwood, and African percussionist Rebop. Alas this never happened due to Hendrixs untimely death.

Is credited with having written the first punk rock song titled "7&7 Is" which appears on Loves Da Capo album in 1967. Arthur however is less than thrilled with the term "punk" as many rockers from his era and even into the 1970s tend to feel the same way.

Gave Jimi Hendrix his first paying gig. Lee produced a song for a woman named Rosa Lee Brooks titled "My Diary" in which Hendrix was hired to play guitar. The two would not cross paths again until a few years later.

Recorded four solo albums with only two seeing release. The first of is Vindicator from 1972, and the last being the self titled Arthur Lee from 1981. His second solo album was 1973s Black Beauty and was produced by Paul Rothchild for Buffalo Records, while the third was 1977s unreleased More Changes for the E.X. Pression label.

Started going bald around the age of 23 when he fell asleep in a bathtub with a hair straightening chemical in his hair. He began wearing wigs throughout the 1970s and 1980s into the early 1990s.

In May of 2006 he became the first adult in the state of Tennessee to receive a stem cell transplant. He received it to aid him in his battle with leukemia.

He and the rest of Love lived in a home nicknamed "The Castle" which was then owned by actor John Philip Law.

Arthur Lee was instrumental in The Doors having been signed to Elektra records. Elektra founder Jac Holtzman had to be persuaded more than once by Lee after not being impressed by Jim Morrison and company.

Attended the famous Dorsey High School in Los Angeles.

Syd Barrett cites Love as being a major influence on Pink Floyd and one of the main reasons the group formed in the first place.

Before co-founding Love with Johnny Echols, the two were in a soul group called The American Four. Their forty fives are considered very rare.

One of Arthurs most famous fans is Robert Plant, who has been known in the past to cover many of Loves songs during live performances. Plant has even stated how at one point he was not sure he wanted to meet Lee due to his reputation of being somewhat difficult.

Mazzy Star covered the song "Five String Serenade" for their platinum album "So Tonight That I Might See", which inevitably made Loves obscure 1992 album (which would later be re-issued and re-titled as "Five String Serenade") Arthur Lees most profitable venture. "Five String Serenade" was originally released on the French label then known as New Rose.

Singer/songwriter Ben Harper claims to have used Loves legendary "Forever Changes" album as one of his main inspirations for the 2003 release "Diamonds On the Inside".

Before he hired Bryan MacLean as a guitarist for Love, the position was held by none other than Bobby Beausoleil who was later a driving force in the Charles Manson murders.

In 1973 he recorded a solo album titled Black Beauty for Buffalo Records. The label was owned by Michael Butler who at the time also owned the rights to the musical Hair. The album to date is unreleased and available on as a bootleg.

He got the inspiration to cover the Hal David/Burt Bacharach song "My Little Red Book" while watching the film "Whats New Pussycat ?" The tune was Loves first hit on the charts and also served as the opening track to their debut album.

According to The Memphis Commercial Appeal, he was the very first adult in Tennessee to undergo a bone marrow transplant using stem cells from an umbilical cord.