Mickey Gee
 |
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| Mickey Gee | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 December 1943 |
| Died | 21 January 2009 (aged 65) |
| Genres | Rock and roll, rockabilly |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1960s–2008 |
| Associated acts | Tom Jones, Dave Edmunds, Shakin' Stevens |
Michael Richard 'Mickey' Gee (31 December 1943 – 21 January 2009) [1] was a rock and roll guitarist who played alongside some of the most prominent Welsh musicians of the last forty years.
He died on 21 January 2009 in Cardiff from emphysema.[2]
[edit] Career
Born at 13 Garth Street, Cardiff, early in his career Gee was the musical director of The Squires, Tom Jones' backing band when he was still known as Tommy Scott.
Later in the 1960s, he played alongside Dave Edmunds and close friend, bassist John David Williams, in the band Human Beans. His relationship with Edmunds continued for many years playing on several of his records, most notably on his multi-million selling number one single "I Hear You Knocking" in 1970.
During the 1980s, Gee became a member of Shakin' Stevens' backing band adding lead guitar to the number one singles This Ole House, Green Door and Oh Julie (a relationship that dated back to a brief stint in Shaky's earlier backing band The Sunsets in 1971).
Gee's distinctive playing style was much in demand during the 1980s. In 1985, he was part of Carl Perkins' star studded backing band[1] which, along with Edmunds, also included George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton for his Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session. During the same year, Gee was involved in Bill Wyman's Willie And The Poor Boys project which also featured Charlie Watts and Jimmy Page.
Gee was still regularly performing until shortly before his death from emphysema at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales in January 2009.
[edit] Selected discography
- Dave Edmunds - "I Hear You Knocking" (1970)
- Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets - I'm No J.D. (1971)
- Dave Edmunds - Subtle as a Flying Mallet (1975)
- Geraint Watkins & the Dominators - Geraint Watkins & the Dominators (1979)
- Andy Fairweather Low - Mega Shebang (1980)
- Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House (1981)
- Dave Edmunds - Twangin... (1981)
- Shakin' Stevens - Shaky (1981)
- Dave Edmunds - D.E. 7th (1982)
- Shakin' Stevens - Give Me Your Heart Tonight (1982)
- Phil Everly - Phil Everly (1983)
- Cliff Richard - The Rock Connection (1984)
- Willie And The Poor Boys - Willie And The Poor Boys (1985)
- Carl Perkins & Friends - Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session (1986)
- Nick Lowe - Pinker and Prouder than Previous (1988)
- Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone (1991)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Biography of Mickey Gee". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mickey-gee-p79367/biography. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
- ^ Dermody, Nick (22 January 2009). "Tributes to veteran guitarist Gee". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7843796.stm.
