REST IN PEACE

The death of a parent is extremely painful. I do not know what it's like to have a real father in your life but I would assume he would be a hero or someone you would look up to for personal talks on how to deal with women, finances, and friends which come and go as you grow up, even toss the ball with you and have "real" talks with you as you are in your formative years. Well unfortunately Spike Lee has just lost that parent. Spike Lee has announced his father, Bill Lee, has passed away. The good thing is that his father lived a long, healthy, creative life and saw his son blossom into the filmmaker he is today. Bill died at his Brooklyn Home earlier this week and Spike Lee went on Instagram, sharing images of his father, taken by his brother David Lee. “DEEDS NOT WORDS,” Spike captioned the photo collection. 

 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARTS

Spike Lee's father was also an artist. He was a talented composer, jazz bassist, and actor. He actually did some music for some of Spike Lee's early work. Bill Lee performed and recorded with well-known musicians, like Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Art Blakey. Spike Lee's father also contributed to the civil rights struggle and took part in racial equality and social justice marches and demonstrations. Spike Lee was obviously influenced by his father and included similar themes in his films. Bill Lee also wrote the music for  “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986) and “Do the Right Thing” (1989). Two of Spike Lee's early movies which put him on the map, especially “Do the Right Thing”