Published by Bronzeville Life (Winter 2022 edition)
The violin is a delicate instrument, yet as it ages, it becomes more vital and distinct in its unique sound. When you first look at the instrument, the human eye will see it the same as others. Still, when it's played, most musicians would identify becoming connected—spiritually and soulfully with the instrument.
Lee England, Jr.'s infatuation with the violin at age six was short-lived. After convincing his parents he wanted to learn how to play, he didn't expect it to be so hard and wanted to quit, but his father, Lee England, Sr., wouldn't allow it.
"When I first picked up the violin after seeing it at school, I thought it was something I wanted to do. So, I picked it up, and it was terrible. I went to my father and told him I had quit. It doesn't sound like the violin. He asked me, 'Do you want to quit?' I said, 'Yes.' He says, 'Okay, you have to practice 15 minutes a day.' In my 6-year-old mind, I thought that's all it took?" England says.
After being tricked into sticking with practicing, England became good at mastering the violin and grew a real passion for music.
Growing up in Waukegan, a suburb 26 miles north of Chicago, England, hails from a musical family.
I didn't know that my family was that gifted in song. It was a traditional Black family, and everyone could actually sing. I have one aunt who was a recording artist who sang the blues. My cousin played the bass, and my mother played clarinet throughout high school. They didn't tell me this until later."
England credits the church and the musicians who mentored him while coming up. In addition, his pastor Reverend C.L. Fairchild positively influenced his musical and spiritual development.
"When you have singing pastors, you have incredible musicians backing them up. There was an organist, I give him a lot of credit, Richard Gibbs, for my style. They would use music to set the tone for the pastor and calm the spirit, bringing things in unison and putting us on the same vibration as the pastor."
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