Dennis McGee

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Dennis McGee (born January 26, 1893 in Bayou Maron / Louisiana , † October 3, 1989 in Eunice ) was an American fiddle player , accordionist and singer and an early representative of Cajun music .

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McGee, who had Irish-American ancestors on his father's side and French-Seminolian on his mother's side, grew up in the country after the early death of his mother. A cousin gave him a fiddle as a present, which he learned to play autodidactically within six months with the help of his grandfather . He soon mastered the repertoire of French parlor dances and performed at celebrations in southwest Louisiana.

In the 1920s he met the fiddler Sady Courville , whose sister Gladys he married in 1925. Courville became his musical partner, with whom he made the first recordings in 1929 and 1930. Several of her early songs became standards of Cajun music . Since Cajun musicians couldn't make a living from their music, Courville turned back to his furniture business after initial success, while McGee performed with neighbors like Ernest Fruge . His next important musical partner - in times of strict segregation - was the Creole accordionist Amédé Ardoin .

Later McGee had to give up music and worked as a farmer and barber. When new interest in Cajun culture awoke in the 1970s, McGee's extensive work was rediscovered. After he and Ardoin had finished their musical career long, they now had the opportunity to performances at festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Mission A Prairie Home Companion of National Public Radio . The University of Southwestern Louisiana named McGee Honorary Dean of Cajun Music shortly before his death. His son Gerry McGee became known as a rock musician.

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personal data
SURNAME McGee, Dennis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American fiddler, accordionist, and singer (Cajun music)
DATE OF BIRTH January 26, 1893
PLACE OF BIRTH Bayou Marron
DATE OF DEATH 3rd October 1989
Place of death Eunice (Louisiana)