Tee Dee Young - 2022 Inductee

Tee Dee Young is one of those rare individuals who appropriately wears the moniker of a true, distinguished 'legend in his own time.' His unique style, dynamic stage presence, and contemporary mixture of gospel and traditional Blues promise to influence jazz, rhythm & blues, rock, and country music for generations to come.

Tee Dee Young was born July 5th, 1964, near the Pralltown community in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended Carver Elementary as a child and graduated from Tates Creek High School in 1983.

Tee Dee has been playing music for as long as he can remember. His father, Leonard Young, was a talented gospel singer and significantly influenced Tee Dee's musical development. His older brother, George, also mentored his younger sibling and steered the young prodigy toward the Blues genre. Not yet a teenager, Tee Dee spent hours down by the railroad tracks just off Prall Street, learning the feel and exploring the depth and emotional power of his guitar under the tutelage of one of his earliest mentors, Mr. Harrison Coleman. 

Tee Dee displayed his talents in establishments around Lexington and surrounding towns at a very young age. He and his brothers performed at the Club Cherry in Lebanon, KY, where artists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Denise LaSalle, and Ike and Tina Turner had previously performed. By the age of 13, Tee Dee was performing in sold-out arenas for some of the country's most prominent artists. In the mid-1970s, Tee Dee and his brothers traveled to Gary, Indiana, to open for Michael Jackson and his Motown group sensation, the Jackson 5.

At 14, Tee Dee formed his own band and performed in talent shows, private parties, and area clubs that would permit the underage youngster into the establishment. By age 20, Tee Dee was traveling and performing across the country in iconic venues like The Cotton Club in New York City, Albert King's Club, Kingston Mines in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and Club Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi. 

During this time, Tee Dee began developing his unique style of Blues entertainment. By combining Traditional Gospel with the different forms of the Blues he experienced while traveling the country, Tee Dee established his own brand of authentic, soulful Blues melodies.
           
As his audience grew and the demand for his Blues style increased, Tee Dee found himself opening and performing with many legendary acclaimed R&B musicians and Blues artists. He played and shared the stage with Johnny Rawls, Guitar Shorty, Big Bill Morgan, Albert King, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Vesta Williams, and so many more. He backed popular success acts Sir Mack Rice on 'Mustang Sally' and Eddie Floyd with 'Knock on Wood.'

Tee Dee's craft has taken him to music venues worldwide. He has toured and performed in front of loyal, Blues-loving fans in Italy, France, Germany, and Belgium. He entertains his fans with a bevy of his most popular tunes and many of his personally treasured melodies. Cherished hits such as: 'I've Got To Move,' 'Bye Bye Baby,' his distinct version of the Beatles, 'Yesterday,' 'One Foot In and One Foot Out,' 'Devil Keeps Talking To Me,' 'Lonely Nights,' 'Raining Cats and Dogs,' and 'Southern Soul Lady,' remain crowd favorites today.

Tee Dee has been recognized throughout his career with countless high-profile industry awards. The Beale Street Merchants Association named Tee Dee Young its 'Beale Street Blues King.' The Kentucky Blues Society honored Tee Dee with its 'Best Blues Band' award, and he was named 'Best Blues Artist' by the Lexington Music Awards in 2015. This particular award is now branded the 'Tee Dee Young Blues Award.' Tee Dee is an honored Kentucky Colonel, and in his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, September 13th is officially recognized as 'Tee Dee Young Day.' 

Tee Dee Young continues to move audiences with his soulful Blues artistry and performs regularly in Lexington at his own establishment, Tee Dee's Bluegrass Progressive Club. He writes and performs his own music while openly sharing his expressive gift with young artists. Tee Dee feels introducing the younger generation to Blues history will keep the genre alive so future generations can learn from the past.

Through six decades of writing, singing, and performing, Tee Dee Young has made an enduring, permanent mark on the Blues world. Tee Dee's unique Blues style has and will continue to capture the heart and soul of his listening audience while influencing artists in all music genres for generations to come.