Three years later she became a member of "Britain’s most famous all female swing band, Ivy Benson and Her All Girl Orchestra,"[2] performing in British music halls and during several overseas tours, including North Africa, to entertain the armed forces.
[1] Bands like Benson's were formed during World War II when most male musicians were called up for combat duty.
[2] In 1951, she met the saxophone and clarinet player Lew Smith at Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Filey, North Yorkshire.
In Melbourne, June and Lew were performing in the rock band Maximum Load, which had a local hit with Riding Through the Dandenong Ranges.
According to Lee:June embodied two vital ingredients with her vocal delivery: an ability to swing and an ability to create blues inflexions with her voice... June’s deep understanding of the nuances of jazz gleaned initially as a trumpeter gave her jazz performances an integrity that can only come after years of performing and listening.