Bill Lee Musical artist
Bill Lee (21 August 1916 – 15 November 1980) was an American playback singer who provided a voice or singing voice in many films, for actors in musicals and for many Disney characters. He was born in Johnson, Nebraska, and like his dancing colleague Bobby Van died in 1980 in Los Angeles, California, of a brain tumor.Lee was part of a popular singing quartet known as The Mellomen. In The Jungle Book's soundtrack, it was mistakenly assumed that fellow Melloman member, Thurl Ravenscroft, provided the singing voice of Shere Khan in the song, "That's What Friends Are For". However, Richard Sherman confirmed on the audio commentary on its 2007 DVD release, that it was Bill Lee who provided Shere Khan's singing as George Sanders, Shere Khan's voice actor, though an accomplished singer, was not available during the finalized recording of the song.Lee also provided the singing voice for Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music.