Indy Lee | biography

BIOGRAPHY

As a teenager Indy's talent was discovered by his music teacher, with whom he'd later on sang at several small parties. The first song he ever sang was "My Way", a Frank Sinatra song which Indy knew in the version of Elvis Presley. His mom was a huge Elvis-fan who collected all the records she could find. Indy sang along with all those songs, never aware of the fact his parents were listening closely, discovering his talent. It didn't come as a surprise to his parents though, since both his parents were musically talented, in spite of never having had the chances of pursuing an actual career. Indy's sister, Catyana, would follow in her brothers footsteps, years later, starting off a musical career also.

Indy met zus Catyana en moeder

At the age of 12, Indy met Jimmy Lawton (Oklahoma, USA), who later on became his biggest influence, and also mentor. Indy convinced his parents to buy a guitar, since Jimmy also played the guitar, and Indy wanted to be exactly like him in every way. The admiration he felt for Jimmy went as far as getting him to work hours and hours trying to master the guitar, and proceeding to the level of an advanced country instrumentalist. Indy started participating in contests, winning close to every one of them. Then, the big day came, when Jimmy called him on stage to sing and play a few songs with him and his band. That's when Indy rolled into the country and rock scene, unstoppable and ambitious as never seen before.

Indy became a steady "special guest" in the “Jimmy Lawton Show” and started off his career, finally, in 1977, under the name “Ricky travers”. His first record (LP), “With All My heart”, was released in 1981. This record contained coversongs and selfwritten songs, mostly country music and crossover country.

Indy later on got his own show in Bobbejaanland, at the Country Hall, which used to be the former home of Jimmy Lawton.

Jimmy & Indy on stage (Bobbejaanland, Country Hall)

Indy & Jimmy in de Country Hall

Indy's first record (longplay vinyl)

Pretty soon Indy got spotted by a producer (Leon lambrechts, Monopole Records) and started recording a few single records. All of these consisted of his selfwritten songs, and sounded like country with a touch of rock. He started doing tours, with - among others - : Jimmy lawton & The Hot Beaver band (with Stewart Barnes), Windfall, Hickory Wind, Travelin’ band, Rawhide, ... He also performed at Elvis-shows, which gave him great reviews. Elvis and country were in his blood … His career got to a sudden stop though, due to Indy being enlisted in the army, for one whole year (Communications services in Spich, Germany).

In 1985, when he returned from the army, he decided to become fully professional, and started building his own recording studio. He became a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, keyboards, drums, ... and accepted an offer as leadsinger/guitarplayer for “The Wigs”. For 4 years Indy toured the Benelux with this band, and recorded several full CD's with them (singing mostly country music).

Eigen show in de Country Hall

In 1990 Indy got into contact with a dance producer, and got signed with Game records (owned by Carolina Guilini, daughter of Yvan Guilini). He became the leadsinger of the dance-act “Timeshift”, with whom he toured Eastern and western Europe, and did lots of TV performances. Their first single “Don’t U feel the beat” (Indy’s translation of “les divas du dancing” by P. Cataldo) reached # 4 in the Belgian top 30, en # 1 in the French dancecharts.
Due to legal difficulties, Indy was forced to end the Timeshift adventure, and soon started working with his old band again.

Indy & The Wigs 2002

Indy & The Wigs 2003

2003 brought Indy back to his old style, and he started singing pure country again. Linedance audience spotted him and started booking him for their dance gigs. Before too long he decided to pursue what he had always wanted before: doing Jimmy's style of performing ...

2009 ...

Indy met the love of his life, Hoa Lee, and they're currently working on music together. With a love for each other that can overcome anything, and their love for music, there's no telling what they may still achieve.
Fact is, if you want to enjoy a powerful bond in love and music, be sure to visit them on one of their performances ...

BIRTHDAY = Oct 24th
SIGN = Scorpio
CHINESE HOROSCOPE = Tiger
LENGTH = 5.7 ft
COLOR HAIR = Brown
EYES = Brown/Green
LANGUAGES = English, Dutch
INSTRUMENTS = Guitar, Bass guitar, Drums, Keyboard
LEAD INSTRUMENT = Vocals & backingvocals
OTHER SKILLS = Songwriter, Arranger, Producer, Webdesigner, Media

GREATEST WISH = do a show together with Rodney Carrington ;-)
COLOR = Blue
DRINK = Bud light, Cola light, Milkshake
FOOD = Steak with fries & mayo, Babi pangang, Spaghetti Carbonara, Chili con carne, icecream
MOVIE = Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy
SOAP = Star Trek (TOS), Married with children
ACTRESS = Lucy Liu, Sandra Bullock, Milla Jovovich
ACTOR = Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Tommy Lee Jones, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Sean William Scott, Lance Henriksen, Christopher Walken
HOLIDAY = Texas
HOBBY = Computer, gaming, a long bath, watching movies
CAR = American pick-up trucks
ANIMAL = horses
CELEBRATION = Independence Day (4th of July)

FOR = freedom, honesty, and equality
AGAINST = injustice, lies, cheating, fights (verbal or other)

Slogan(s) = "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - "Keep it country " - "I'll be back" - "Show it to me"