Amos Lee

Amos Lee, born Ryan Anthony Massaro in 1977 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, developed an interest in music during his time at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a degree in English. Inspired by John Prine’s work, he began playing guitar and bass, immersing himself in the sounds of artists like Donny Hathaway, Joni Mitchell, and Bill Withers. After returning to Philadelphia, Lee worked as a second-grade teacher and bartender, performing at open mic events. These early performances led to opportunities as an opening act for established musicians such as Mose Allison and B.B. King, marking the beginning of his professional music career.

In 2003, Lee’s demo caught the attention of Blue Note Records, leading to a record deal. His self-titled debut album, released in 2005 and produced by Norah Jones’ bassist Lee Alexander, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, earning him recognition from Rolling Stone as one of their “Top 10 Artists to Watch.” His music reached wider audiences through placements in TV shows like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘House,’ and the film ‘Just Like Heaven.’ Lee continued to build his career with subsequent albums, ‘Supply and Demand’ (2006) and ‘Last Days at the Lodge’ (2008), further solidifying his unique blend of folk and soul.

A significant milestone occurred in 2011 with the release of ‘Mission Bell,’ which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. This album featured collaborations with notable artists such as Lucinda Williams and Willie Nelson. Lee has consistently toured with and opened for esteemed artists including Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Adele. His recent work includes the album ‘Dreamland’ (2022) with the hit single “Worry No More,” and “Honeysuckle Switches: The Songs of Lucinda Williams” (2023). His album ‘Transmissions’ is set for release in 2024 via Hoagiemouth Records, in partnership with Thirty Tigers.