Rhythm and Blues Singing Star Lee Dorsey Dies at 59

Lee Dorsey, the rhythm and blues singer whose joyful sound made “Working in the Coal Mine” a hit in the 1960s, has died of complications from emphysema at the age of 59.

The New Orleans native, who died Monday, settled on a music career in the mid-1950s after stints as a Navy lightweight boxing champion and an automobile repairman.

Dorsey’s first big hit came in 1961 when “Ya Ya” hit No. 1 on rhythm and blues charts and No. 7 on the Hot 100, producing his first gold record. His musical career spanned work with such artists as Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, T-Bone Walker, Pigmeat Markham and James Brown as well as the Beatles and the Clash.

In 1966, Dorsey followed “Get Out of My Life, Woman” with “Working in the Coal Mine,” which became his second gold record and led him overseas to work with the Beatles.

In 1977, Dorsey recorded “Night People,” which Time magazine picked as one of the best 10 recordings of the year.

In 1980, Dorsey worked the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and later that year was the opening act for the English group, the Clash on the group’s American tour.