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05-26-07, 11:36 AM
In the 30's there three main ballrooms in NYC. The Savoy was the most famous and the person who helped spearhead that was Frankie Manning and Lindy Hop. Bands came from all over to play there (Battle of the Bands between Benny Goodman and Chick Webb being the most famous - 5000 people waiting to get inside the already packed ballroom) and its floor had to be replaced every three years. This is Frankie Manning's autobiography.
Frankie Manning spread swing dancing's popularity throughout the world while tou0ring with Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in the 1930s and '40s. Dance writer and swing dancer Millman conducted extensive interviews with Manning for a vivid account of his career. Manning became a star in Harlem's popular Savoy Ballroom with his unique style, including dancing at a sharp angle to the ground like a track runner, speed and musicality. In a dance competition, Manning astonished the crowd with the first-ever Lindy aerial, or air step (where the man sends his partner flying). Later Manning toured with jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and performed in several films, including Everybody Sings with Judy Garland. After a long hiatus from dancing, he was a consultant for Spike Lee's Malcolm X and coached a new generation of dancers in the swing dance revival of the '80s and '90s. While the first-person accounts of Manning's life capture his vibrancy, humor and charm, the narrative is interrupted by short sections of historical notes; their formality is at odds with Manning's ease and charisma. Still, this vivid memoir by one of swing dancing's innovators and stars is a must for lovers of dance, jazz and African-American history. 36 b&w illus. (May)
I've taken lessons with him - he is still dancing and teaching even though he's over 90! As a promotion for his birthday there's an underground movement to help move the sales of his book towards the top of the bestseller list on Amazon.
If you're interested in some history of NYC, with the evolution of a dance, along with great stories you'll enjoy this.
Here's one of the most famous clips from 'Hellzapoppin' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=HD_Bs9egsS4). He choreographed this and is in the overalls (you can see him egging on everyone before he busts out), the last and fourth solo couple before the full group.
Here's the best part. If you buy the book you'll get to download never been released tracks from some great swing bands:
- Junior Mance is donating a song from his very first gig for dancers from the Jelly Roll / Yehoodi event back in Jan 2003.
- Barbara Morrison is donating a song from the Yehoodi 5th Anniversary Party (with Junior's Trio!)
- George Gee is donating his band's version of "The Push", written by Dawn Hampton
- Ron Sunshine is donating a "special" version of "Natural Man" (different from the one on his cd, Deluxe)
- Frank Foster is donating a new, unreleased version of one of Frankie's favorite song, Shiny Stockings!
If you bought it today (26th) go to Frankie Manning.com (http://frankiemanning.com), put in your name, email and order number to get the downloads.
Link to Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Manning-Ambassador-Lindy-Hop/dp/1592135633/ref=pd_ts_b_64/104-4936492-4609504?ie=UTF8&s=books)
Frankie Manning spread swing dancing's popularity throughout the world while tou0ring with Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in the 1930s and '40s. Dance writer and swing dancer Millman conducted extensive interviews with Manning for a vivid account of his career. Manning became a star in Harlem's popular Savoy Ballroom with his unique style, including dancing at a sharp angle to the ground like a track runner, speed and musicality. In a dance competition, Manning astonished the crowd with the first-ever Lindy aerial, or air step (where the man sends his partner flying). Later Manning toured with jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and performed in several films, including Everybody Sings with Judy Garland. After a long hiatus from dancing, he was a consultant for Spike Lee's Malcolm X and coached a new generation of dancers in the swing dance revival of the '80s and '90s. While the first-person accounts of Manning's life capture his vibrancy, humor and charm, the narrative is interrupted by short sections of historical notes; their formality is at odds with Manning's ease and charisma. Still, this vivid memoir by one of swing dancing's innovators and stars is a must for lovers of dance, jazz and African-American history. 36 b&w illus. (May)
I've taken lessons with him - he is still dancing and teaching even though he's over 90! As a promotion for his birthday there's an underground movement to help move the sales of his book towards the top of the bestseller list on Amazon.
If you're interested in some history of NYC, with the evolution of a dance, along with great stories you'll enjoy this.
Here's one of the most famous clips from 'Hellzapoppin' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=HD_Bs9egsS4). He choreographed this and is in the overalls (you can see him egging on everyone before he busts out), the last and fourth solo couple before the full group.
Here's the best part. If you buy the book you'll get to download never been released tracks from some great swing bands:
- Junior Mance is donating a song from his very first gig for dancers from the Jelly Roll / Yehoodi event back in Jan 2003.
- Barbara Morrison is donating a song from the Yehoodi 5th Anniversary Party (with Junior's Trio!)
- George Gee is donating his band's version of "The Push", written by Dawn Hampton
- Ron Sunshine is donating a "special" version of "Natural Man" (different from the one on his cd, Deluxe)
- Frank Foster is donating a new, unreleased version of one of Frankie's favorite song, Shiny Stockings!
If you bought it today (26th) go to Frankie Manning.com (http://frankiemanning.com), put in your name, email and order number to get the downloads.
Link to Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Manning-Ambassador-Lindy-Hop/dp/1592135633/ref=pd_ts_b_64/104-4936492-4609504?ie=UTF8&s=books)