George Gee (bandleader)
Encyclopedia
George Gee is a Chinese-American swing
big-band leader
. Born in New York City
, he grew up with a fascination in the big band music of the 1930s and '40s. In 1980, he founded the retro
17-piece George Gee Swing Orchestra (formerly known as the Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra). In 1998, he formed the ten-piece Jump, Jive, and Wailers. Gee is a popular with lindy hoppers
worldwide, including legendary Savoy Ballroom
dancers Frankie Manning
and Dawn Hampton.
Swing (genre)
Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
big-band leader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
. Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he grew up with a fascination in the big band music of the 1930s and '40s. In 1980, he founded the retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
17-piece George Gee Swing Orchestra (formerly known as the Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra). In 1998, he formed the ten-piece Jump, Jive, and Wailers. Gee is a popular with lindy hoppers
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based...
worldwide, including legendary Savoy Ballroom
Savoy Ballroom
The Savoy Ballroom, located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for music and public dancing that was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958. It was located between 140th and 141st Streets on Lenox Avenue....
dancers Frankie Manning
Frankie Manning
Frankie Manning was an American dancer, instructor and choreographer. Manning is considered one of the founding fathers of the Lindy Hop.-Early years:...
and Dawn Hampton.