Dennis McGee
Dennis (Denus) McGee (born January 26, 1893, Eunice, Louisiana, USA – October 3, 1989) was one of the earliest recorded Cajun musicians. A fiddle player, he recorded and performed with Creole accordionist and vocalist Amédé Ardoin, with accordionist Angelas LeJeune, and with fiddlers Sady Courville (McGee's brother-in-law) 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. Amelia died when Dennis was two years old. He received his first violin at the age of 14, and started playing dances within 6 months. Legacy. 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. Discography. 1929 New Orleans Session with Amédé Ardoin 1930 New Orleans Session with Amédé Ardoin 1934 San Antonio Session with Amédé Ardoin 1929 New Orleans Session with Sady Courville 1929 New Orleans Session with Ernest Fruge 1930 New Orleans First Session with Ernest Fruge 1930 New Orleans Second Session with Ernest Fruge 1930 New Orleans Session with Walter Coquille Compilations Family. McGee had three wives: Nita Rozas (1910–1911), Marie Young (after 1912 ), and Gladys Courville (1925). He stayed married to his final wife until she died in 1990. One of his sons, Gerry McGee, was a member of The Ventures. Gerry McGee went to Hollywood, California, and recorded with numerous rock and pop stars, such as Elvis Presley "Girls, Girls, Girls"and "Trouble With Girls", Movie Soundtrack "Great Balls of Fire", and Rock Sensation, Ivy Lite Rocway and Country Superstar, Dwight Yoakam.