Lee Andrews

Lee Andrews, the father of the Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and the lead singer of the 1950s doo-wop group Lee Andrews and the Hearts, died March 16, according to multiple news sources. He was 79.

No cause of death was announced.

Andrews formed the doo-wop group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1953. Four years later, their hits started coming: Chess Records picked up their first hits, “Long Lonely Nights” and “Teardrops” in 1957. Another hit, “Try the Impossible,” came out in 1958, after the group had moved to United Artists.

They continued to tour into the 1960s.

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In a post on Instagram, Questlove showed his love of and appreciation for his father:

“For every backstage experience. For every drum lesson. For giving me your tireless work ethic. For our father & son record binging expeditions. For our arguments over the summer I discovered #ItTakesANationOfMillions.

“For the look on your face when I told you ‘imma give this rap thing a try’ (I waited til our 2nd album to have this convo btw) For the look on your face 5 years later when I told you ‘you don't have to work no more.’ For the look on your face when a year later I was like ‘Seriously dad, you don't have to work anymore!’”