General Lee

Not many DJs kicked off their career at age 10, but radio personality Leigh Dolbear, better known to Kiwis as General Lee, started spinning the decks at the family business as soon as he hit double-digits.

His parents’ bar, The Forge, opened in Papakura in 1978 and was legendary for its live music gigs; it also had a DJ booth, and the young Leigh taught himself to mix on vinyl, experimenting with everything from ’70s classics to the newest chart releases every chance he got.

Leigh names the highlight of his career as landing his first show on George FM back in the early 2000s - he calls it “the greatest station in the world.” He was then poached by ZM to host the Club Mix on Friday and Saturday nights, forever cementing him in the hearts and minds of millennials and Gen Xers as the soundtrack to their nights out.

His ZM gig progressed into the Ministry of Sound radio sessions, for which he played 400 shows in total, making him one of the country’s most well-known and prolific DJs. In 2017, Leigh moved to the daytime show on George FM, and now takes the captain’s seat as the breakfast host delivering the best show results George FM has ever seen in its 22-year history.

He’s also dabbled in producing music, releasing the 2016 summer banger Everything is Going to be Alright with NZ hip hop artist Kings, which hit the NZ singles chart. Although Leigh has seen the DJ landscape, as well as music tastes, trends and technology, evolve extensively over his 20+ year career, his number-one love remains records - the first platform he learned to mix on. To this day he is a huge vinyl collector, boasting an extensive collection across many genres.

When he isn’t behind the decks or the George FM mic, Leigh relishes time with his partner and his two daughters, whose arrival has brought the biggest joy to his life. Family remains his number one priority, especially having lost his mother to MS alongside his younger sister.

To counteract the late nights of DJ life, you’ll find Leigh out on his boat fishing, enjoying Auckland’s harbour playground, or target shooting. He loves debates on politics and topical news, plays guitar and piano, and is an avid cook and wine aficionado.

Leigh is in constant high demand by premier brands to seal their events as the hottest ticket in town, having played gigs for Coca-Cola, Flight Centre, ANZ, Hyundai, Pioneer, New Balance, and Barkers, to name a few. He also hosts and MCs events, bringing his infectious personality to the stage; for four years running he hosted the sold-out Synthony shows across NZ.

Leigh’s boundless energy, humour, and positivity make him the perfect partner for businesses seeking a collaborator to connect with a social, engaged audience always looking for their next adventure.