this song spans generations, genres, styles, decades, and the feelings and memories that are triggered by a melody, a recording, the concept that songs take on a life of their own, once they become part of our collective consciousness.

The title of the song came to me while doing a hotel piano bar gig on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and other times in my life, where I was asked to play so many genres, Classical, Broadway, Soul, Funk, Blues, Stax, Motown, Country, Sinatra, Beatles, Bacharach, Bowie, Queen, Elton, Billy Joel, Gospel, Stones.  I have an extremely large repertoire, and cover most of those genres, but playing my own music a great joy, and a gift from the creator.  The melodies come to me from a mysterious place, and the words soon follow, as if they are meant to be joined together.  This song is how music connects us all, and the stories and memories of our lives.  
Through my work with Paul Williams, Chairman of the Board of ASCAP, I've been fortunate to work with some of the greatest songwriters of the last 70 plus years, and this song is a tribute to them, and the singers and musicians who brought the songs to life.   
I did my 1st recording session at age 12 or 13, in a studio in Birmingham Alabama, with my brother's band, and realized then and there, that's what I wanted to do.  As much as I liked playing live, I knew with the technology and the budgets we could created some amazing music.  Hearing my voice back on a great German Telefunken top of the line microphone, at a young age inspired me to study voice lessons, and everything else.  
I'm performing all of the instruments from my studio in Spain, and did the video production.  I also studied film scoring at San Jose State University, in the genesis of Silicon Valley's power of personal computing, that changed how we create music, videos, and so much more in the digital world.
Available for Download on bandcamp
https://johnleesanders.bandcamp.com/album/songs-have-a-life-of-their-own
http://johnleesanders.com​
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/joh...​

Songs Have A Life Of Their Own

Written for my wife Maria, melody came to me in a dream, and the lyrics came not long after.
Strings by Maria Grig, St. Petersburg Russia.  
Strings arranged by John Lee Sanders
Lyrics by John Lee Sanders and Michael deCroix.
Music Composition, John Lee Sanders
Full CD available to purchase on bandcamp.com
JLS, Piano, additional strings, Tenor Sax
Mick Mestek, Drums
Bruce Kaphan, Pedal Steel Guitar
Bach Norwood, Upright bass
Mastering, Airshow, Boulder CO

Tweakin' Some Twang

Joy In the Morning

I'm a big Led Zeppelin fan.  One of the most exciting fun times of my life was performing with Jimmy Page, in Vancouver.   I was touring with Long John Baldry in 1991.  We were on our last show, arriving back in Vancouver after a long 2 month tour across Canada.  Baldry and Jimmy Page had been friends since the early 60s, when Page was a teenager in London.  He was in town doing an album with #NickCloverdale, and surprised us that night with a great performance on the encore.   
My version features the legendary drummer, #DavidGaribaldi from #towerofpower,  a 4 piece horn section, with members of #HueyLewisandtheNews, and 4 female backup singers.  Guitarist include #stefburns and #garthwebber, of the Miles Davis Band.  
This track was recorded in 1995, in San Jose, CA at #tamblingsound, and OTR Studio.  At the time I was signed to a German label in Hamburg, called Hypertension Music, who managed and booked Long John Baldry, who I was touring with during the 90s.  I was able to keep the North American distribution rights,  and still own all of the master recordings.

World Blue

Black Dog, Led Zeppelin Cover Funk Version

©john Lee Sanders, Swampmeister Music ASCAP

Put Down Your Phone

John Lee Sanders vocal demo for a songwriting client,
for demo purposes only, and not for release
John Performed the vocal and all tracks on this recording as a work for hire, and Not for commercial release.

Bring Us World Peace

Golden Hour Backing Track

From Way Down Here

FlightOfTheAngels JohnLeeSanders

Do You Need A Miracle

Don't Mourn For Me

JL Sanders/David Ritz demos   

Christ Is Simple

ChildrenOfTheWorld JohnLeeSanders

From my CD, Beacon of Light, recorded in San Jose CA
1999
Background vocalists, 
Jeanie Tracy, LZ Love,  Emma Jean Foster

BeaconOfLight JohnLeeSanders

The legendary composer Mike Stoller, Hound Dog, Kansas City, Stand By Me, Jailhouse Rock) and my long time co-writer, Chris Caswell contracted me to add vocals to this wonderful song,  "One Last Round". about getting older
Ever since I heard those great songs, Hound Dog, with Elvis, I knew I wanted to work with him

One last round
I've never been the type to give up easily
And I always take as much as I can get
So I offer a cold shoulder
With the thought of growing older 
Cuz I'm not a kid but hell I ain't dead 
My hair or what still there is growing grayer now
And I can't hear what you're saying very well
Yeah the menu keeps getting finer at the menu at the diner
And yes I'm still here as far as I can tell

So give me one last round
And then another round
I'm going to make it last cuz I don't wanna  go

One Last Round

Just One Kiss was written for The Bold and the Beautiful Soap Opera, By John Lee Sanders, Lothar Struff and Chris Caswell.
I performed all of the parts in my home studio in Vancouver for a quick turnaround for a song they needed for the show, Chris and Lothar were the Lyricists, and I'm the composer.  The song received a 2007 Emmy nomination, for best song from a daytime TV show.  This is a little more smooth than my gutsy vocals, but to get in the right mood, for love, sometimes i need something mellow.  

Just One Kiss-Emmy nomination song of the year

I've Been arranging for horn sections, big and small since 1970, for pit orchestras, musical Theater, recording sessions, film soundtracks, Big Band Orchestras, Tower of Power, Robben Ford, Chris Cain, and many great CDs in The Bay Area, Vancouver, Europe, and Los Angeles.  Here are a few examples of my work on various CDs, over the years.  
From my own home studio, I can do 2 or 3 overdubbed tenor and alto sax parts, and at times add a very realistic sampled Bari Sax parts, that works very well in a mix.  I'm using a high quality Neumann TLM 127 microphone, and a Universal Audio Preamp/Compressor.  for larger budgets, I contract some of the top horn session players in North America and Europe, depending on the size of the section.  in 2014, I did a tour, as arranger, and front man lead singer with the National Jazz orchestra of Croatia, writing big band arrangements of some of my blues and jazz classics.

John Lee Sanders Horn Section Arranger examples

Uncle Rainbow, one of the most popular club bands in the late 70s in Northern California, and the Dallas Fort Worth Area, A mixture of Pop, Jazz, Funk
Biography
Uncle Rainbow was the most popular club band going in Dallas Texas in 1976-77, packed the clubs 6 nights a week, had a great front man singer named Richard Oates, talented songwriter, Brent Bourgeois, who became a hit Gospel producer in Nashville at Word Records. 

John Lee Sanders was brought in to replace Steve Gay on Saxophone, and also added keyboards, vocals and composing and arranging. Jo... See More
Description
Uncle Rainbow broke up in 1981, but has still remained friends, and came together in 2010 to raise money for Lead Singer Richard Oates' Liver Transplant. Richard has since passed on but the music of this great band will remain in the hearts and soul of everyone who experienced them. 
Artists We Also Like
Sting, Bourgeois Tagg, Adrian Bourgeois, James Taylor, James Brown, Tower of Power, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Little Feat, Lyle Workman

Any Way the Wind Blows

This is a song about social media addiction where everyone has a phone and some are addicted to it and do it constantly. I performed alto and tenor saxes, guitar bass, aa as keyboard, background, vocals, and lead vocals, Including my wife, Maria, who is also singing background vocals￼. I miss the times when doing concerts when everyone gave their attention and was not looking at their phone or filming the show￼

I recorded a collection of Blues Jazz piano solos for Piano Player Premier, for the Yamaha Disklavier, of some of my favourite versions of the classic New Orleans piano.  I'm a big fan of Jellyroll Morton, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, and James Booker, and have incorporated their styles in much of my music. 

St. James Infirmary (Solo Piano_

John Lee Sanders sings with one of the greatest jazz sax players of all time, Bud Shank  Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank, Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and throughout the decade worked in various small jazz combos. He spent the 1960s as a first-call studio musician in Hollywood. In the 1970s and 1980s he performed regularly with the L. A. Four. Shank ultimately abandoned the flute to focus exclusively on playing jazz on the alto saxophone. He also recorded on tenor and baritone sax. He is also well known for the alto flute solo on the song "California Dreamin'" recorded by The Mamas & the Papas in 1965.  He worked with Miles Davis, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones,  Chet Baker, and so many great legendary jazz musicians   This track was for his solo Album, and was never released.  Bud passed away in 2009, and I had forgotten about this track.  


Sausalito Morning, Featuring Bud Shank Alto Sax

An Off the board recording of one of the mid 70s most popular club bands, who would later spawn Bourgeois Tagg, John Lee Sanders, Notable Members, Brent Bourgeois, Larry Tagg, George Lawrence, Danny Neal, Producers Narada Michael Walden and Jimmy Horowitz
Uncle Rainbow Sold out every show at this legendary club in Dallas in the mid 70s, . this show was a return after the band's relocation to the San Francisco Bay Area, after a production contract with Michael Hossack of the Doobie Brothers.  Unedited, OHne Filter

Uncle Rainbow Live At Fannie Annes Dallas Tx 1977

Inspired by the 23rd Psalm, I learned this song while singing with the Choir at Our Lady of Lourdes in Oakland CA, and recorded a demo of it, in my style, It's normally performed much in a much more strict rhythmic interpretation in the Catholic Hymnal, but my background is soul, blues, funk, pop, and African American Gospel, and I hope the composer is pleased.

Written by Francis Patrick O'Brien

Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston in 1985, Fran has spent all of his priesthood in parish and campus ministry, where, along with his sacramental and parochial duties, he has frequently served as music director and composer. He is currently pastor of St. Matthias Parish in Marlborough, MA, a western suburb of Boston.

Fran began working in music ministry at age thirteen as accompanist for the children’s choir in his home parish. He moved up the ranks from fill-in organist to music director while still in high school. During those years, Fran began composing for liturgy, taking inspiration from the works of Alexander Peloquin, Lucien Deiss, Michael Joncas and the St. Louis Jesuits. Fran later studied under Martin Pearlman, founder of Boston Baroque; John Huggler, composer in residence, Boston Symphony Orchestra; and noted choral composer, Julian Wachner.

Fran’s compositions for worship are born out of over 35 years of experience as accompanist, choir director and, since 1985, presider. His compositions, beginning with You Are All We Have and Shepherd of My Heart, in 1991, are known for their strong melodies and solid texts. He is a frequent presenter of workshops and concerts throughout the New England area as well as with NPM and GIA. His commissions include works for Form Reform, the NCEA and the Archdiocese of Boston in celebration of its bicentennial year.

Shepherd Of My Heart

Sample Rough mix from the upcoming John Lee Sanders CD, "Tweakin' Some Twang" 
John Lee Sanders Vocal, Piano, Saxophones, Keyboards, 
Mick Mestic, Drums
Bruce Kaphan, Pedal Steel, Weisenborn Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Nylon String Guitar, Dulcimer
To be added,  Chromatic Harmonica

Ridin On A Southbound Train

This is a Backing track I did for a company that sells online backing tracks for horn players, smoothjazzbackingtracks.com .  the original is from The Phil Collins Big Band, featuring Gerald Albright.  I'm using Digital Performer, EZdrummer, and a few different sample libraries, including EastWest Pop Brass, Broadway Big band, Kontakt Session Horns, Trillian Spectrasonics Upright Bass, 
I'm also a big band arranger, and have written for Tower of Power, the Croatia TV and Radio Orchestra, Nineteen Big Band, San Jose California, and many others, including Dr. John, Robben Ford, Long John Baldry, Chris Cain, 
For Custom big band arrangements or backing tracks, contact johnleesanders@gmail.com .

Chips and Salsa Backing track, as recorded by the Phil Collins Big Band

Long John Baldry sings this beautiful Song inspired by British Columbia Haida Indian Artist Robert Davidson, that was part of a multi-media exhibit in Vancouver's Grouse Mountain. 
This was a photo I took of him on one of our last tours together through the Canadian Rockies.  At his memorial service, I put together a video presentation of his life, in photos, recordings, and soundtracks.  this song closed the service, and was a beautiful tribute to his Spirit.  When I remember my wonderful time in Vancouver, I remember this song.  The beautiful soprano singer is Ann Mortifee

Our Spirit Soars

Here's a backing track I did for Smooth Jazz backing tracks.com,  duplicating the great performance by Euge Groove, 2011, 
click here for the original credits.
https://www.allmusic.com/song/ten-2-two-mt0041238743
  On this track I'm playing all the parts, including piano, organ, and live rhythm and lead guitar.  Loved Euge's playing on this, reminds me of the closing song that Lenny Pickett does with the band on SNL, For the DAW, I use Digital Performer.   I'm using EZDrummer, Trillian Bass, Alicia Keys Kontakt Acoustic, and  Electric Pianos, and the EastWest Gold String section.  Go to smoothjazzbackingtracks.com to purchase this track, and many other great sax backing tracks.  I also transcribe many of the solos on these recordings. and possibly this one, if there are enough requests.

Ten To Two-Smooth Jazz backing track

Way Back in 1970, I had just started my first year at Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe LA, and was studying music, arranging, Composition, and was doing Orchestra, and big band arrangements on the side for extra cash.  
I was playing bass on the weekends, in a 12 piece Society Dance band, The Phares Corder Orchestra, doing high profile Debutante Balls throughout the south, Beauty Pageants, and Big Budget Country club dances.  I was about the only guy in town that could sing and read music.   One occasion was the Memphis Maid of Cotton Pageant, at the sold out Memphis Colosseum, and they hired me to write a 20 piece orchestra version of Mickey Newberry’s Acoustic stripped down “American Trilogy”, *previous to the Elvis Version  
I pulled out all the stops with tympani, Backup singers, and my best friend, Killer vocalist, the late Jake Thorpe, with a 4 octave range, brought the house down as the opening number with a 20,000 sold out Standing ovation.  We never performed it again, but about 6 months later, Elvis released his version from Live in Vegas, strikingly similar to my arrangement.  I can’t remember the woman who won the pageant, but the Runner up was Linda Thompson, later girlfriend from Elvis, and lyricist to my favorite Whitney song, “I Have Nothing” from the Bodyguard soundtrack,  Small world after all.  

About 15 years later, I was a performer in the house band,  at the Saddle Rack, San Jose during the 80s, Biggest Honky Tonk on the West Coast,  and would occasionally do a 10 minute Elvis Tribute with the Vegas Jumpsuit, wig, sideburns, and the full deal.  I put together a backing track during that time for another project that never materialized, , which included American Trilogy. This was before Sampling and Computers, but I managed to morph the live in the studio track, with Martin Luther King’s last speech, “I’ve been to the Mountain Top”.  In this edit, I’ve left out the “Dixie” part which has negative racial overtones to me personally, and cut right to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.  Memphis, my mother, Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Elvis, BB King, Aretha,  Jerry Lee, Martin Luther King, Sun Records, Johnny Cash, and so much are interconnected, and that’s why I thought of making this available on Soundcloud, during this week of Martin Luther King's Birthday.  His voice is amazing by itself, but combined with this music, it takes on another dimension.

American Trilogy MLK Speech

Production Library Music, Tribute to the great soul big funky orchestral themes of the 70s, When Soul music went "Uptown".  Bill Conti, Rocky Balboa, Isaac Hayes-Shaft, Cop Dramas, Soul Funk Disco, Barry White, Soul Train, TSOP, The Sound of Philidelphia, Gamble & Huff, Thom Bell
John Lee Arranged, performed and composed the track, flute,  keys, horns, Guitar, and percussion.

Philly-Buster✊🏿🦾

Soprano sax and violin with Orchestra, bittersweet cinematic orchestration with John Lee Sanders, Soprano sax, and Maria Grig on concert violin, one of the top concert violinists in Russia.
The original version is from the JLS CD "Tweakin some Twang" vocal version, with a live rhythm section.  This version features the orchestra, and JLS on Soprano sax,  This version is dedicated to the memory, legacy and inspiration of Maestro film composer Ennio Morricone who passed away this week in Italy.
The melody came to me in a dream, as a love song to my wife Maria.  I put lyrics to the melody, but love the instrumental version almost as much.  I released it as a pop ballad, and but she suggested I add the orchestra, with a solo violin prelude.  I retained all of the stems of the production and redid it with solo violin and soprano sax.

Joy in The Morning, Instrumental with Solo Violin & Soprano Sax

Bedtime Story

BestIsYetToComeGroverWashingtonPattiLabelleKeyofEb

Mozart revisited on the critically acclaimed CD from John Lee Sanders, Mozart Rhythm and romance,  Mozart takes a mythical journey to the blues jazz and gospel sounds of the American deep south, on the mighty Mississippi, in a musical portrait of the sounds of New Orleans.
Irene Sazer, Violin
Ruth Davies, Upright Bass
Paul Van Vageningen, Drums
John Lee Sanders, Tenor Sax, Piano, Hammond Organ

Mozart In Mississippi - Piano Concerto No. 21, K. 467  Second Movement

Gospel on the Mainline

Jesus On The Mainline

John Lee Sanders Productions, backing tracks for vocalists, horn players, special events, custom hard to find songs, for public performance.  
Includes arrangement that follows the original version. Key changes can be ordered on request.  Contact johnleesanders.com
Blues, Jazz, Classical, Gospel, Film, Country, Christmas,

Love theme from Romeo and Juliet Backing track

John Lee Sanders comes from the deep roots of jazz, blues and roots music through his early years in the Mississippi Delta, Alabama, the Bayous of Louisiana, and The plains of Texas. John Lee has a universal gift to reach audiences from a broad and diverse musical spectrum. 
With blues at the core, he has evolved a complex musical gumbo, with the flavors of Cajun, Rock, Gospel, Pop, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Country, classical, with a deep love of the traditions, and culture of New Orleans. 

There is another John Lee Sanders, on soundcloud, impersonating my name, and has nothing to do with my music,  which is about empowerment, Sacred spirituality, uplifting consciousness, musical integrity, virtuosity, and honoring the  great Jazz, rock,Soul, blues artists, composers, as well as the great classical masters, Film composers, and all great ethnic indigenous music of our world, inspired by our creator. Trademark pending

John Lee Sanders ™ (official 🎷🎹 )

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