Mr. Solid Gold

NOTICE: THIS SITE WILL BE CLOSING SOON!

Lee To (Try To) Form Rock 'N Roll Oldies Band! UPDATE - Lee, a professional drummer since the age of 16, was going to try to form a 50s and 60s oldies band early in 2005. If you'd like to read about Lee's bands from the 1960s, click here. As of early May 2005, Lee had been in contact with several prospective band members, and although Lee had hoped to be practicing by that time there was a strong possibility of things coming together. It was decided that the band would be called "Lee & His Solid Gold Band". That would be a tie-in with his popular Solid Gold radio show. None of Lee's bands in the 60s had female members, by the way. "I'm looking forward to doing 'Hey Paula'!", Lee said that summer. Last August Lee abandoned his efforts to form an oldies band, saying, "I'm suspending my efforts to form an "oldies" band at this time. I now realize my expectations were unrealistic considering the time, talent, and level of commitment I'd need from prospective band members to form a successful act that would be ready to perform this summer. It would have been easier in an urban setting I'm sure." Lee sold his drums in early 2008. "You can't go back, evidently" he said at the time.


		Lee is a member of the Christian Drummers Association (USA)

Check out the new pictures, links, clippings and a look at Maine rock 'n roll bands from the 60s.

"I do have to say, when I could get you on the radio playing music, yours was one of the better shows I have ever listened to. Your presentation and explanations were great! I think it was equal to or even better than the old WTOS."

Jim

Milford, ME

Like to talk about the "oldies"?

Catch Lee on AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Instant Messenger or iChat for video chat- when he's online!!

Lee's AOL IM "buddy name" is

leerande

Share the memories!!

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Over the years the name Lee Rand has become synonymous with Lincoln radio and broadcasting. In the early and mid-1980s, Lee Rand was general manager of radio station WLKN in Lincoln. During this time, he hosted his own radio show, Solid Gold, featuring music of the 1950s and 60s. Solid Gold was the #1 rated weekend radio show in northern Maine during most of the 1980s. Lee was the subject of three major articles in the Bangor Daily News during his radio career. He also produced radio shows for MPBN featuring recording artists from the State of Maine. His in-depth, detailed six-hour "Dick Curless Story" set a new high for Maine broadcast standards. Lee surpassed that with another six-hour radio show, featuring Maine rock and roll bands from the 1960s highlighted by the original music and interviews with band members from such groups as the Mainiacs, Jester Holiday, Barracudas, Triumphs and others. Lee made radio fun to listen to again.

Lee left a successful radio career in 1987 to work with his wife Connie. Lee briefly reprised his role as "Mr. Solid Gold" in 1995 on WHMX-FM. On May 7, 1995, Lee's first radio show in over 8 years began with the song "Welcome Back", by John Sebastian. Within a few weeks, the show was close to reaching its former popularity. Unfortunately, the radio station being in bankruptcy, the station and Solid Gold only remained on the air until July 23, 1995. No one knew at the time that would be Lee's last live radio show, and ironically, he ended his radio career with the monologue, "This Is Not Goodbye - Just Goodnight", followed by "The End", by the Beatles, off the Abbey Road album.

Although "Maine's Oldest Living Teenager" has had several good offers to do his "real" oldies show on various eastern Maine radio stations, he shows no interest in doing it again. "I have enough great memories to last a lunchtime - why would I want more? Then again, money is a great incentive . . . . . . Seriously, I have had the pleasure of having a number one rated radio show, and I have been lucky enough to be able to share the music I love so much with thousands of listeners in eastern and northern Maine. But the radio business has changed, and my type of show is not what the radio owners of today want. I've done it, and I've been there, so I doubt if I will ever 'do it again' over the radio waves. But let me tell you, it was great, and I want to thank each and every one of you who listened in and still write or call - you, along with the music, will always be a part of my life."

Lee is currently sales manager for Rand Advertising, and has seen several of his photographs published worldwide. He makes his home in Lincoln with his wife Connie, their cat Jingle Bells, and thousands of 45s, albums, cassettes, CDs, mp3s . . . .

In the fall of 1962, Lee attended his first rock 'n roll show at the old Bangor City Hall with David Sleeper from Brewer. That Saturday afternoon, he also attended the "teen tv show" hosted by DJ Jim Winters at WABI-TV in Bangor. The featured artist for both events was Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The three things Lee remembers are that Bobby Pickett was a heck of a nice guy, he lip-synced the song on TV, and he sang Boney Maronie at his live show. Bobby was backed up by the Triumphs, and Lee thinks he remembers Bobby doing Monster Mash two or three times during the show. Although it's long lost, he did get Bobby's autograph that day, but more importantly Lee decided that there had to be a place for him somewhere in the world of rock 'n roll.

Lee did his first live DJ show during the school year 1962-63 at Fifth Street Junior High School in Bangor. He shared the "stage" with the Jesters. In 1964, having moved to Old Town, Lee formed and recorded with several rock bands, including Lee and the Levitations, the Roadrunners, and the Good and the Bad, to name a few. Lee played drums, and actually wrote one song (which everybody seems to have forgotten). Lee continued to perform in rock 'n roll bands with his last being in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1969. The last time Lee performed in public in a band was at the K of C Hall in Old Town in the spring of 1970. In the mid-1970s, while becoming increasingly known for his popular "live" record hops, Lee programmed the music for WABI's (Bangor, Maine) oldies format at the request of program director George Hale. Informed at the time that he would never be a successful radio DJ, Lee nevertheless proved that to be on par with telling the Beatles in 1962 that four-man rock groups were on the way out! At this time, Lee had also been working for the past few years as a DJ at WMEB-FM in Orono. He was soon recruited by WLKN-FM in Lincoln and Solid Gold debuted on August 7, 1979. As mentioned earlier, Lee went on to numerous achievements in his radio career, as radio personality, sales manager and station general manager. Few in eastern and northern Maine enjoyed the popularity that Lee did, with his oldies show and with those who listened to it faithfully every Sunday. It probably can be said quite sincerely that Mr. Lee is truly a broadcasting legend. Whether it was Brenda Lee, Ronnie Dove, Johnny Rivers or Freddy Fender . . . when they came to town, Lee was their MC - at their request.

As far as Lee's record hops were concerned, he did them all over eastern and northern Maine, from the Oyster Bar in Ellsworth, the Anchorage in Old Town to the Chalet in Lincoln. Fashioned after shows by the late Bangor DJ Jim Winters, Lee's show was an exciting time! Many shows were broadcast live over the radio, such as those from the Heritage in Millinocket. Lee could always be counted on to draw a crowd - he was the first entertainer to ever sell out the K of C Hall in Lincoln, and he did that several times! Lee has truly earned the title of Lincoln, Maine's only living legend!

If you're a fan of 60s music, you may remember a group called People. They only had one hit - "I Love You", but from that group came Larry Norman, the "father" of modern Contemporary Christian Music. I highly recommend his music - I listen to it all the time! It can't be said of Larry that we wished he'd been ready! He was.........

Lee's

Thoughts