Lady Lee’s lust for life

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This article was published 23/06/2021 (1774 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lee Wenaus can’t wait to start playing live gigs again.

The St. Boniface resident — a.k.a. Lady Lee — is a member of the five-piece blues band Blue Noise, which also includes Deano Dean, Kerry Hanna, Cam Patterson, and Gregory Polo.

For the last 25 years, Wenaus has played clubs and festivals across Winnipeg and Canada performing rock, blues, and jazz — ranging from the Windsor Hotel to the Edmonton Blues Festival. Blue Noise has also been the backup band for many blues musicians at countless music jams across the city. She started out playing with a band called Loaded.

As summer beckons, the band is tentatively scheduled to play a set outside on the patio at Centre culturel franco-manitobain (340 Provencher Blvd.) on Sat., July 24 — although it’s uncertain if the gig will go ahead in the face of changing health restrictions.

“It’s one of the first returning gigs booked at CCFM, but I’m not sure what the situation will be at that time,” Lee, 61, told The Lance recently.

If the performance is put on hold for the time being, Wenaus shouldn’t have any problem finding other things to keep her busy.  

“I’m probably the youngest 61-year-old I know. I like being really busy and active, as it leads to an interesting life.”

As well as her Blue Noise resume, Wenaus — who hails from Fillmore, Sask. and moved to Winnipeg in 1998 — has also been an integral part of the Women in Blues events that have been held at Park Theatre in South Osborne in the last few years. A Jan. 11, 2020 Women in Blues event, for example, included performances by Wenaus, Romi Mayes, Debra Lynn Neufeld, Angel Calnick, Gwendolyn Smith, Nadia Douglas, Tannis Bumbury, and Sharon Clarkson.

“Hopefully, we can get back to that event sometime, although there’s nothing planned yet. We literally pack the house every year. The Park Theatre has a capacity of nearly 400, and it’s crazy in there when it’s packed. It’s so much fun,” Wenaus said.

In line with the same theme, Wenaus has also taken part in a number of Women in Jazz events at the same venue, also with an ensemble lineup, in the last few years.     

It’s fair to say music is in Wenaus’ blood. Her mother played piano, and her father played piano, accordion, guitar, violin, and saxophone.

“My dad and my sisters had community bands in Saskatchewan, and they would play the community halls on a Saturday night.”

If she every finds time to write her life story, Wenaus will need a big notebook.

Before recently retiring, she spent 20 years working for Apprenticeship Manitoba, and she’s also worked for CBC, and in the film industry as a wardrobe mistress and props person. She’s also lived in Mexico.

Her majestic St. Boniface home was built by a Belgian stone mason and his wife between 1950 and 1953. Having been taught by her father, Wenaus did a lot of the work to convert the property into four suites herself.

On the subject of teaching, Wenaus hasn’t ventured into the world of academia, although she has three degrees — in fine arts, arts education, and psychology. She can also be spotted driving around town in her 1957 Fiat 1100.

When asked how she keeps so youthful, Wenaus said she likes to keep busy, which includes working on her classic car.

“Doing all these different things helps keep me busy, fit and young. This includes working on my car, which is a rare little car,” she said.  

“Life is about keeping busy, and meeting lots of different people. I think everyone is interesting, and everyone has a story to tell, whether they are five or 105.”

“I also enjoy the odd scotch, and a good cigar. I don’t overindulge, but certain things are good to have from time to time.”

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