I just read in my hometown newspaper (Texas) that a Dennis McGee, Jr. had passed away at the age of 80 in a VERY small town called Mineral. The obit said that he was the son of Dennis and Gladys (Courville) McGee, born in 1927 in Chataignier, LA. I don't know if his father was the musician Dennis McGee, but those names and places sound very familiar, and just thought some of you might know or like to know about it.

Yup, that was his son, and my great uncle.

My condolences to all your family...had no idea about him until I read the obit.

Sorry about the loss.

Which son played guitar with the Ventures?

peace,
Griff

That's Jerry that plays with the Ventures, who, from what I hear are still quite popular in Japan of all places.

man
i love the ventures!
had no idea of any LA connection
i was just listening to at least 5 ventures vinyl discs last week..

wle.

I 'hear'a three-row lead on 'Pipeline...'

peace,
Griff

ha ha
i hear a chromatic :)
[just started playing chromatic button
accordion lately
c system
sure would save carrying a butt load of
accordions for each key...]

wle.

Here is a video with Gerry McGee and the Ventures. Go to link #1.


Just noticed that Gerry also played on Beausoleil disc.

peace

Wow. In the early 80s, opened for these guys at the infamous Dirt Club. They sold so many tickets, they had to broke the night into two shows. At the time, I didn't even know Cajun music existed. Where's Mr. Peabody and the Way Back Machine? Looking at the video, it's amazing how much of Dennis you can see in Gerry.

Steve

I love the Venture, me too!

I still have a large pile of original Ventures LPs that I got from my uncle. They were his favorite band, and he had all their records. He also had a band, and played lead and rhythm guitar. They did many Ventures covers. Oh yeah, he even had a Mosrite guitar!

I think I like the Ventures In Space the best, but there's a lot of good stuff in their earlier records.

Not to take anything away from Gerry, but he was not a member of the Ventures during their heydey years in the early sixties. They had somewhat faded by the time he joined in the late sixties, and they weren't breaking much new ground by then.

I did see them at the famous Palomino club in N. Hoolywood in the early 90's, and it was a blast. They were really hamming it up.

-David

Gerry also played with Kris Kristofferson for a while. I read somewhere that on a few ocasions Dennis would come on stage and play a few tunes with them.

Fans of John Mayall may remember Gerry McGee on the albums Back to the Roots and Memories.

Sabra,

Are you from Beeville or Corpus Christi, by any chance? That would explain your local news carrying the obit on Mr. McGee.
You are right about Mineral. You just can't get there from here.
The only place that is more isolated is the
big city of Pawnee, right up Hwy 673.

I wonder three things?
Was Denis Jr. in the Awl Bidness (oil business)?
Did he also play the fiddle?
How in the world did he wind up in Mineral, TX.?
The only thing in common with LA is the heat and the mosquitos.

I have spent lots of time in and around Bee County, but I guess you just can't get to meet everybody.
Too bad.

JB