He is a lead guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, producer and actor born Gerald James McGee in Eunice, Louisiana, whose father was a well-known Cajun fiddler.
He began his professional career in music when he was 14 and in the following years he toured with Buddy White and Will Mack as part of the trio Buddy White & The Knights, did a tour of military service and lived and recorded in Atlanta for a time.
He moved to California after they had split up in 1959/1960 at the suggestion of Rick Nelson’s guitarist, James Burton, and became an actor and active in the studio musician. He worked with many artists that include Booker T & the MGs, Jimmy Buffett, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Darin, Delaney & Bonnie, The Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Monkees, Patti Paige, Elvis Presley, Jerry Reed, Linda Ronstadt, Nancy Sinatra, Ray Stevens and Dwight Yoakam.
He was the lead guitarist for the successful instrumental group The Ventures from 1968 until 1973 and returned to them in 1984, still going to Japan with them every year to perform concerts.
Singles he has appeared on include “Alley-Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles as well as his own 45 releases. The many albums he appears on include his own Friends from a Distance and My Guitar Memories, over 20 albums with The Ventures and Havana Daydreamin’ by Jimmy Buffett, Sounds from Home by Delaney Bramlett, Portraits by Emmylou Harris, Monkees, Instant Replay,Listen to the Band, Missing Links Vol. 3, The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees and Music Box by The Monkees, Live a Little, Love a Little/Charro!/The Trouble With Girls/Change of Habit by Elvis Presley, Home and Away by Del Shannon, Honky Tonk Heroes by Billy Joe Shaver, Blame the Vain by Dwight Yoakam and the soundtracks of Great Balls of Fire.
As an actor on television and in the movies he has appeared in films such as A Star is Born, Bloodrage, The Burning, Convoy, Heaven’s Gate and Playing for Keeps and on TV series such as L.A. Law and North and South and he has also composed many film scores and contributed works to various soundtracks.
Jimmy Buffett recordings
Havana Daydreamin’ (Jimmy Buffett)
Sources:
- http://www.rockabillyhall.com/GerryMcGee1.html
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569074/bio
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569074/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ventures-Hawaii-Five-O.jpg
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ventures_discography
- http://www.theventures.com/index_files/biogerry.htm
- http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Gerry%20McGee:1927131609
- http://www.buffettnews.com/bandmember35.html
