Lee Dorsey was a key figure in New Orleans R&B in the 1960s, best known for his
collaborations with Allen Toussaint, his use of the Meters as his backing band,
and a series of high-charting and oft-covered hits. Born on December 24, 1924,
Dorsey was a boxer before retiring from the fight game in his early thirties. He
opened an auto body shop back home in New Orleans and performed at night for
kicks. Dorsey released a handful of unsuccessful singles until he teamed up with
Toussaint in the early ‘60s and released the million-selling, Number 1 R&B
single “Ya Ya” in 1961. The song ...