Lee Hays | |
---|---|
Birth name | Lee Elhardt Hays |
Born | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | March 14, 1914
Died | August 26, 1981 Croton-on-Hudson, New York, U.S. | (aged 67)
Genres | Folk music |
Occupation | Singer |
Lee Elhardt Hays (March 14, 1914 – August 26, 1981) was an American folk singer and songwriter, best known for singing bass with the Weavers. Throughout his life, he was concerned with overcoming racism, inequality, and violence in society. He wrote or cowrote "(I Am a Weary and a} Lonesome Traveler" "Wasn't That a Time?", "If I Had a Hammer", and "Kisses Sweeter than Wine", which became hits and Weavers' staples. He also familiarized audiences with songs of the 1930s labor movement, such as "We Shall Not Be Moved".