Toledo, 1960-5
Lee and the Leopards, like many Toledo groups, were swept up in the explosion of the Motown powered Detroit R&B/soul explosion of the early 1960s.
The group started around 1961, and included Lee Moore as the namesake and lead singer, George Miller Ross, Prentiss Anderson, and James Porter. Anderson had been in the Del-Rios (with William Bell) who recorded for the early Stax records. but had moved to Toledo, where he performed with a self-contrained group called the Gayhawks.. He was recruited to join the group and after a few weeks, they auditioned for Berry Gordy at Motown, who Anderson had met when he was touring with the Del-Rios. The group had brought some of their own songs, but Gordy wanted them to sing some of the in-house songs. The group went back to Toledo and they reworked one of the songs "Come Into My Palace". The group returned to Detroit a few days later and within a day, they had the song recorded at Motown. Jsmes Porter was not able to make the session, so Prentiss Anderson sang Porter's part, with Eddie Kendricks singing Anderson's tenor part.
The 45 was the first chronological release on Gordy, although it was the second assigned catalog number. Porter was not included on the contract. The record was a big hit on WOHO and WTOD in Toledo and also on Detroit stations. The group did some promotonial shows with WTOD. The record was picked up by Laurie records because the Motown operation did not have a full scale national promotional system.
The group recorded a second 45 at Fortune, and a final 45 for K-Lee label from Adrian, MI. For the last record, the group recorded their own song "The Gypsy Said" backed by a band called the Rivieres from Adrian. When the record came out, the label credited the Rivieres instead of Lee and the Leopards. Some of the copies had stickers for Lee and the Leopards.
After the group ended, Prentiss Anderson spent many years backing up various Motown related groups.
Discography:
Come Into My Palace / Trying To Make It - Gordy 7002
What About Me / Don't Press Your Luck - Fortune 867
The Gypsy Said / Knock On Wood - K-Lee 811K-5218, 1963