Lee Rocker

Leon Drucker, known professionally as Lee Rocker, was born on August 3, 1961, in Massapequa, Long Island, New York. Growing up in a musical family, his father, Stanley Drucker, was the principal clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Lee initially played the cello before transitioning to electric bass at age 12, and then developed a strong preference for the double bass. Influenced by records from Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins, particularly their use of slap bass, he adopted the double bass as his primary instrument. His dedication to mastering the upright bass shaped his unique playing style, which became a hallmark of his career.

In 1979, Lee Rocker co-founded the band Stray Cats with James McDonnell (Slim Jim Phantom) and Brian Setzer. The band’s rockabilly sound quickly gained popularity, leading to significant commercial success. With Stray Cats, Rocker sold nearly 10 million albums and achieved 23 gold and platinum certified records globally. The band was a regular presence on MTV. In 1982, Rocker received a Grammy Award nomination, making him and his father, Stanley Drucker, the second father-son duo to be nominated in the same year. Beyond Stray Cats, he has collaborated with notable artists such as Carl Perkins, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, and Keith Richards.

After Stray Cats, Rocker continued to build a solo career and collaborate on various projects. He formed Phantom, Rocker & Slick with Slim Jim Phantom and Earl Slick, releasing two albums for EMI Records, “Phantom, Rocker & Slick” and “Cover Girl,” with the song “Men Without Shame” seeing airplay on MTV. He also released several solo albums, including “Big Blue” (1994) and “Atomic Boogie Hour” (1995) on Black Top Records, and later albums like “Bulletproof” (2003) and “Black Cat Bone” (2007). In 2013, Rocker received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bass Player magazine and was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. He rejoined Stray Cats for a reunion tour in 2018-2019, culminating in their album “40” in 2019, and released his latest solo album “Gather Round” in 2021. His career demonstrates a sustained commitment to his musical craft and the rockabilly genre.