Lee now part of country music duo, releases debut single – The Trib
Two year’s after placing in the top six on superstar Kelly’s Clarkson’s team during season 14 of NBC’s singing competition “The Voice,” Kaleb Lee is experiencing country music success.
After the show finale, Lee, a Benton native, pursued a solo career and released four country singles. “I Dream of Southern,” written by songwriters Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Brandy Clark, features Clarkson, who has remained a mentor to Lee and whom he now considers a friend. Lee performed the song with Clarkson both on her talk show and on season 15 of “The Voice” last December.
“Over the last few years, obviously doing ‘The Voice’ was a platform that I will never regret being a part of. It really changed my life and has given me tons of opportunity to do this now as a career when I thought my chances were over,” said Lee.
In January, he announced on his Facebook page that he had joined forces with former co-contestant Pryor Baird to form the new country music duo, Pryor & Lee. They signed with Black River Entertainment in Nashville as the label’s first duo.
Lee first met Baird and competed against him on “The Voice.” They immediately hit it off and became instant friends as roommates during the show.
“Signing with Black River in January was a step we always wanted to go. The Black River team and the Starstruck (Entertainment) team on our management side, signing up with both of them really has been an incredible thing for us even though with the pandemic and everything going on,” Lee said. “We’ve got so many great folks with so much great experience and passion about what we’re doing and where we’re going.”
The duo kicked of their “Country’s Back” tour in February at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The tour included 30 cities, but they were only able to play two live shows before having to postpone the tour because of the coronavirus. During the pandemic shutdown, the duo has performed several virtual and Facebook Live concerts including a concert on the Academy of Country Music Facebook page. Last week, Pryor & Lee were able perform an in-person concert prior to a NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
In June, Pryor & Lee released their first single “Y’allsome,” which debuted at No. 60 on the Billboard Country Airplay Charts and has had over one million streams collectively on all platforms. The lyric video has been viewed over 335,000 times on You Tube in two months. It can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0_Kfm1qHpU.
The duo also has a concert scheduled for Oct. 8 in Woodstock, Georgia. Information can be found on their website pryorandlee.com. “We are primed and ready as soon as everything opens back up. We’re excited about it,” said Lee.
After graduating from Murray State University, Lee lived four years in Owensboro and now resides in Ormond Beach, Florida with his wife Megan, daughters Graelynn and Lilly, and son Johander. His parents, Joe and Melanie Scharmahorn, live in Benton.
“I still tell everyone I’m from Kentucky, specifically western Kentucky and Marshall County. My family is still back home and it was really great, you know, I haven’t lived there in such a long time, being on ‘The Voice,’ seeing so many old friends and family,” he said. “And folks I’ve known throughout the years continue to throw out their support to a hometown boy. So I’m very thankful for that and will always be thankful that my hometown of Benton, and entire Marshall County area, helped me with that platform.”
“Our family is really tight, and they go on the road as much as they can with us. It’s been a journey, but we’re all still in it together. The kids love it. My wife is super supportive, and we’re excited about the future,” he added.