Stray Cats' Lee Rocker

The legendary upright bassist discusses his 40-year music career, touring and his latest release, The Low Road

By the LifeMinute Team

July 25, 2018

Lee Rocker made his mark singing, playing, standing on, spinning and rocking his giant upright bass in the legendary music group The Stray Cats ("Runaway Boys," "Rock This Town," "Stray Cat Strut," "(She's) Sexy + 17".) Grammy-nominated, they sold nearly 10 million albums and garnered 23 gold and platinum-certified records worldwide. Founded by Rocker, Brian Setzer, and Slim Jim Phantom, in Long Island, NY, The Stray Cats remain a radio staple, were music video pioneers at the infancy of MTV, and repeatedly brought rockabilly music to the top of the charts.

The son of a musical family, his Dad a principal clarinetist with the New York Philharmonic and his Mom a music professor, Rocker was destined to be a musician. At 16 years old he got himself an upright bass and the rest is history. History that also includes performing with his influences such as Carl Perkins, Levon Helm, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and others, several solo albums and his most recent, a CD/DVD/Vinyl release called The Low Road which was recorded at Daryl's House (Daryl Hall's (Hall and Oates) music venue/recording studio in Pawling, NY.)

Currently on tour with both The Stray Cats, and his namesake band, we caught up with Rocker during the latter, at Centenary Stage Theatre in Hackettstown, NJ to hear all about it.

Check out upcoming Stray Cats and Lee Rocker performances at leerocker.com/shows.