Bessie Lee Mauldin was born on December 28, 1920, in Norwood, North Carolina, and died on February 8, 1983 in Albemarle, North Carolina near her hometown of Norwood, North Carolina. Bessie Lee was an American bluegrass bassist, singer, songwriter, and a member of the bluegrass band “Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys” from 1953–1964. Bessie Lee was nicked named "The Carolina Songbird" by Bill Monroe.