Funeral Details

Parker Lee Williams aka DJ P-Lee Fresh, age 54, born November 2, 1967 at Beth Israel Hospital died suddenly. Beloved son of Flora Koppel and Leroy (Jill) Williams. Dear brother of Kim Jackson, Alexis and the late Reggie. Cherished uncle of Leah, Maya and Dion. Loving companion of Stephanie Garland and her son Jeronimo.

Parker’s mother Flora is a social worker and his father Leroy is a renown jazz drummer. Music was the center of Parker’s life from the day he was born, being named after Charlie Parker and his father Leroy. Parker was raised on New York’s lower east side attending PS 63 for grade school, JHS for Junior High and attended Power Memorial High School for 2 years in NYC. He went on to attend and graduate from Columbia College in 1990. Music and love shone from Parker his entire life. He was creative, energetic and spiritual in a low key quiet way. He was giving and loving beyond belief. All around him shared in his gifts and his joy.

Parker along with his close friend Akbar another NY transplant started one of Chicago’s first graffiti crews in 1985 TCP (The Crowd Pleasers). Parker also had the first official hip hop to radio show in Chicago on Northwestern Universities WNUR every Sunday night around the same year. Bringing music and hip hop culture to Chicago in the early 80’s, Parker was a huge influencer, pioneer and visionary.

As a youth, Parker Lee founded a crew of graffiti artists known as the X-Men, an offshoot of a storied New York crew. He also helped open the hip-hop club STEPPS. It operated in the mid 1980’s at 6459 N. Sheridan Road.

After college he became an intern for the Oprah Winfrey Show and eventually became music director for Harpo Productions, and also created the Harpo Music Sounds Library. His work earned him two Emmy nominations. His current company-Who’z the Boss-along with his partner Dave Herrero, handles licensing and custom music for commercials, video games, movies and TV.
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals-Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com