Dennis McGee

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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.

Songs associated with him include:

• Chere 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 Two Step (Vocalion 5315)
• Jeunes Gens Compagnard (Jeune Gens de la Campagne, Vocalion 15848)
• Adieu Rosa (Vocalion 15840)

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 Cleoma Falcon's.

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References

• J’ai Été Au Bal[1] (documentary film) 1989 Brazos Films/Arhoolie Records, El Cerrito CA
• "Dennis McGee" at AllMusic.com[2]
• "Dennis McGee" at CajunCulture.com[3]
• Recording Activity in New Orleans in the 'Twenties [4]
• Brasseaux, Ryan, and Kevin Fontenot, eds. Accordions, Fiddles, Two Step & Swing. Lafayette, LA: Center for Louisiana Studies, 2007.