Greg Lee was a founding member and singer for the influential L.A. ska group Hepcat, which helped lead California’s ska and reggae revival.
- Died: March 19, 2024 (Who else died on March 19?)
- Details of death: Died in Paramount, California, of cardiac arrest and a brain aneurysm at the age of 54.
- We invite you to share condolences for Greg Lee in our Guest Book.
Greg Lee’s legacy
Lee was there from the start when Hepcat formed in the 1980s. The eight-piece band performed music that was slowly fading out of style – ska, rocksteady, and reggae – but their energetic performances and Lee’s personable co-vocals helped propel them to prominence in the California scene. Hepcat’s influence helped spark the genre revival that surged in the 1990s.
Their debut record came in 1993 with “Out of Nowhere,” and was followed by four more albums. Lee also performed with such acts as Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra, the Aggrolites, and others.
Lee and Hepcat were on the influential punk rock Warped Tour, and continued touring, albeit infrequently. Their last album of original material was released in 2000, though they continue to play ska and rocksteady standards at their shows.
Notable quote
“We know what to do onstage, we know what to do live, we know how we want to bring the music and we also know how to feel ourselves in it.”—from a 2017 interview for LA Weekly
Tributes to Greg Lee
Full obituary: Los Angeles Times
