Legendary Lindy Hopper Frankie Manning just passed away on April 27th, 2009 at the age of 94. I had the opportunity to take swing dance lessons from him, and met him several times.
In May 1999, I wrote a song for his 85th birthday, which I recorded with my band, Tom Knight & the Blue Moon. I traveled to NYC to deliver it to him at his party at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.
LA Times Obituary
Click once to play, or right click and save to download mp3
Vocals and rhythm Guitar - Tom Knight
Bass - Jim Lawrence
Lead Guitar - Mike Vitucci
Drums - Fred Johnson
Sax - Peter Forlano
Trumpet - Gary Hartz
Engineered by Peter Hopper in Freeville, NY.
Tom Knight's website
Frankie Steps Out
Copyright 1999 by Tom Knight
In 1938 things were really hoppin' in Harlem
Goodman and Basie were swingin' all the way to big stardom
On Lenox avenue the kids found a way to move their two feet
Which matched up perfectly with the energy of the new beat
When the band started to swing it in rhythm
All the cats in the corner were with 'em
Hoppin' and stompin'
Under the umbrella of a fella who was known to all as Whitey (Herbert White)
The girls and boys at the Savoy were Lindy Hoppin' nightly (Well all right)
Mr. Chick Webb led the house band playin' in the ballroom
It was one whole city block and had 2 stages - not a small room
When one band finished the other band started there was no rest
The Savoy was famous for its battle of the bands and other contests
Once Chick Webb tried to battle Count Basie
No one won, but the cats all went crazy
Hoppin' and stompin'
Chick had Ella Fitzgerald who could really make the place swing
But singin' with Basie was Billie Holiday she was amazing
Shorty George Snowden mighta been the best dancer in the city
According to the story, Shorty was the first to call it Lindy
When Whitey's Lindy Hoppers were starting to get famous all around town
Shorty thought the time had come to challenge all the young 'uns to a showdown
Shorty did the act that he had been known for
Up steps Frankie, challenging the king of the dance floor
Hoppin' and stompin'
Young Frankie Manning threw his partner in the air, it was a new trick
The crowd went crazy, screaming was louder than the music
(spoken)---We'll have to give this contest to the youngsters!
