Dennis McGee

Dennis McGee
Dennis McGee on PBS's American Patchwork
Background information
Born	January 26, 1893(1893-01-26)
Origin	Eunice, Louisiana
Died	October 3, 1989(1989-10-03) (aged 96)
Genres	Cajun
Occupations	Musician, fiddler, barber[1]
Instruments	Vocals, fiddle
Labels	Vocalion

Dennis (Denus) McGee (born January 26, 1893, Eunice, Louisiana – October 3, 1989) was one of the earliest recorded Cajun musicians.

A fiddle player, he recorded and performed with black Creole accordionist and vocalist Amédé Ardoin, with accordionist Angelas LeJeune, and with fiddlers Sady Courville and Ernest Frugé. The recordings with Courville and Frugé are among the few surviving examples of Cajun music as it existed before the influence of the accordion became prominent.

McGee's repertoire included not only the waltz and the two-step common to Cajun music but also such dances as the one-step, polka, mazurka, reel, cotillion, the varsovienne, and others.

Early life

Dennis McGee was the son of John McGee, Sr. who was of Irish ancestry and Amelia of French and Seminole Indian ancestry.^[2] Amelia died when Dennis was two years old.^[2] He received his first violin at the age of 14, and started playing dances within 6 months.^[2]

Legacy

Linzay Young sings with Chris Stafford, Joel Savoy, and Tony Davoren at a Courir de Mardi Gras by Dennis McGee's grave.

In the 1970s and 80s, McGee continued to perform with Sady Courville at festivals and special concerts and recorded for various American and French labels including Morningstar, Cinq Planetes, Swallow, and Music of the World.

His records are contemporary with Joe and Cléoma Falcon's. Also, his legacy includes his knowledge of playing older styles of Cajun music before the 1900s, when the accordion was introduced.

Notable recordings

• Chère Mama Creole (My Sweet Creole Mama, Vocalion 5319)
• Madame Young, Give Me Your Sweetest (aka Colinda, Vocalion 5319)
• Courville and McGee Waltz (Vocalion 5315)
• Happy One Step (Vocalion 5315)
• Jeunes Gens Compagnard (Jeune Gens de la Campagne, Vocalion 15848)
• Adieu Rosa (Vocalion 15840)

Family

McGee had three wives: Nita Rozas (1910–1911), Marie Young (after 1912), and Gladys Courville (1925).^[2] He stayed married to his final wife until she died in 1990.^[2] One of his sons, Gerry McGee, is a member of The Ventures.^[3]

See also

• History of Cajun Music
• List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music

References

1. ^ Ancelet 1999, p. 37.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Descendants of Pierre Lejeune, dit Briard". http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/v/i/d/James--M-Vidrine/GENE14-0116.html. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 
3. ^ "Gerry McGee". http://www.rockabillyhall.com/GerryMcGee1.html. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 

• J’ai Été Au Bal (documentary film) 1989 Brazos Films/Arhoolie Records, El Cerrito CA
• "Dennis McGee" at AllMusic.com
• "Dennis McGee" at CajunCulture.com
• "Recording Activity in New Orleans in the 'Twenties". http://www.bluesworld.com/NODiscog.html. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 
• Brasseaux, Ryan A.; Fontenot, Kevin S., eds (2006-10-15). Accordions, Fiddles, Two Step & Swing: A Cajun Music Reader. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. ISBN 978-1887366717. 
• Ancelet, Barry; Morgan, Elemore; Rinzler, Ralph (1999). Musiciens Cadiens et Créoles (2nd ed.). University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1578061709. 

Persondata
Name	Macgee, Dennis
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1893-01-26
Place of birth
Date of death	1989-10-03
Place of death