Dennis McGee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis McGee
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Dennis McGee on PBS's American Patchwork
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 26, 1893 |
| Origin | Eunice, Louisiana, U.S |
| Died | October 3, 1989 (aged 96) Mamou, Louisiana, U.S |
| Genres | Cajun |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, fiddler, barber |
| Instruments | Vocals, fiddle |
| Labels | Vocalion |
Dennis McGee (born January 26, 1893, in Eunice, Louisiana, USA; died October 3, 1989) was a very important Cajun musician. He was one of the first Cajun artists to have his music recorded.
Dennis McGee was a talented fiddle player. He played and recorded with many other famous musicians. These included the Creole accordionist Amédé Ardoin. He also played with accordionist Angelas LeJeune. Other fiddlers he worked with were Sady Courville and Ernest Frugé.
His recordings with Sady Courville and Ernest Frugé are special. They show what Cajun music sounded like before the accordion became popular.
McGee's music included many types of dances. He played the waltz and the two-step, which are common in Cajun music. He also played the one-step, polka, mazurka, reel, and cotillion.
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Early Life of Dennis McGee
Dennis McGee's father, John McGee Sr., had Irish roots. His mother, Amelia, was of French and Seminole Indian heritage. Sadly, Amelia passed away when Dennis was only two years old.
He received his first violin when he was 14. Within six months, he was already playing for dances. This shows how quickly he learned and how talented he was.
Dennis McGee's Musical Legacy
Dennis McGee kept performing in the 1970s and 1980s. He often played with Sady Courville at music festivals. He also recorded for different music labels. These included Morningstar, Cinq Planetes, Swallow, and Music of the World.
His early recordings were made around the same time as Joe and Cléoma Falcon's. McGee's knowledge of older Cajun music styles is very important. He helped preserve how the music sounded before the 1900s. This was before the accordion became a main instrument in Cajun music.
Notable Recordings by Dennis McGee
Dennis McGee recorded many popular songs. Here are some of his well-known tracks:
- Chère Mama Creole (My Sweet Creole Mama, Vocalion 5319)
- Madame Young, Give Me Your Sweetest (also known as Colinda, Vocalion 5319)
- Courville and McGee Waltz (Vocalion 5315)
- Happy One Step (Vocalion 5315)
- Jeunes Gens Compagnard (Young People of the Countryside, Vocalion 15848)
- Adieu Rosa (Goodbye Rosa, Vocalion 15840)
Dennis McGee's Family Life
Dennis McGee was married three times. His first wife was Nita Rozas (from 1910–1911). After 1912, he married Marie Young. His final wife was Gladys Courville, whom he married in 1925. He stayed married to Gladys until she passed away in 1990.
One of his sons, Gerry McGee, became a famous musician too. Gerry was a member of the band The Ventures. He also recorded with many rock and pop stars in Hollywood. These included Elvis Presley and Dwight Yoakam.
See also
- History of Cajun Music
- List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music
Images for kids
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Linzay Young sings with Chris Stafford, Joel Savoy, and Tony Davoren at a Courir de Mardi Gras by Dennis McGee's grave.
