Lee Koch grew up as the fourth of five kids in a house where music was always playing. Between his parents and siblings, he could easily find a variety of genres to listen to. He enjoyed Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Green Day and The Fugees, but he delighted in the sound of Golden Oldies that played from his alarm clock radio beside his bed. The soulful artists of Motown especially ignited his interest in music.
He would try his hand at writing poems and experimenting with prose. Not considering himself a poet or songwriter, he was amused at how the words themselves interacted with each other. In high school he started a band to give his poetry a voice. He taught himself to sing and play harmonica.
After finishing High School in Temecula, California, Lee moved to Encinitas to get closer to the ocean and allow himself to grow as a musician. He earned his chops playing harmonica and singing at blues jams in clubs on the coast of Southern California. Too young to hang in the bar while waiting for his turn on stage, he was asked to wait outside until called on. Before long he was being invited to sit in with the house band regularly.
In 2009 Koch self-funded his first recording, Same As Blood, collaborating with a group of musicians and producer Jesse Siebenberg. Same As Blood bottled the energy of Lee's live show. He became a fixture at local Ventura venues, headlining shows and opening for acts like Greg Allman and The White Buffalo.
People that see Lee live try to explain their natural attraction to his performance. It's a kind of electricity. You see the passion in his eyes. You believe what he's singing. His energy is captivating and refreshing. His live performances are known to lift up, shake down, and send you off with a new voice in your head. The songs themselves are soundtracks—to his own journey, and journeys we all are on. So when Lee sings "...set your sails, put out to sea, rest your fears and come with me..." you can't help but be inspired to follow that voice.
After a short run on a famous musical competition TV show, Lee and his wife Nicole hit the road for the next adventure. These days you'll find them traveling around being "free from misery" and sharing his music with the world.