Dick DeAngelis had the great fortune of interviewing Frankie Manning recently. They spoke about his life during the great Swing Era and his innovative influence on the development of the Lindy Hop.

Manning, who is 93 years old, has toured with such jazz greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and others. He performed in several films, including EVERYBODY SINGS with Judy Garland and HELLZAPOPPIN'.

No one has contributed more to the Lindy Hop than Frankie Manning. As a dancer, innovator and choreographer, he has been an unofficial "Ambassador of Lindy Hop," spreading its popularity through three continents while touring with Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in the '30s and '40s, and again teaching, choreographing, and performing in the current Lindy Hop revival since the 1980s.

Frankie Manning started dancing in his early teens at a Sunday afternoon dance at the Alhambra and Rennaissance Ballrooms. Manning "graduated" to the Savoy Ballroom, which was known for its great dancers and bands. Manning, competitive as well as gifted, became a star in the informal jams in the "Kat's Korner" of the Savoy. Manning gave physical expression to the beat, the feel, and the excitement of the swing sound played by the great big bands. He is responsible for many innovations of Lindy Hop step and styles. In a famous competition, Manning astonished the crowd of 2000 with the first Lindy aerial step ever done.

[Click on the above box, for Manning on youtube.]

More recently, Frankie was the dance consultant for and danced in Spike Lee's film MALCOLM X. Frankie's fabulous dancing and radiant smile have inspired generations of Lindy Hop enthusiasts, but he modestly claims, "I'm not interested in fame and glory. It's just that I would like others to know what a happy dance this is."

Manning will be in Fairfield, Aug. 31st-Sept. 2nd.

What a magical guy. I hope you get to hear it. - Dick DeAngelis