Frankie Manning personally selected George Gee’s Orchestra to play at his 85th Birthday Party at Roseland, in a double bill with The Count Basie Orchestra. Toward the end of the evening, the Gee band struck up “Stompin’ at the Savoy”. “At 12:30 AM, [May 27, 1999] Geeʼs band struck up Stompinʼ at the Savoy. Frankie grabbed the microphone: “Everybody Shim Sham.” Credited to 1920s Tap Dancers Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant, the Shim Sham has become an iconic dance for Lindy Hoppers using the extra third chorus choreographed by Frankie.” From the Liner Notes, Swingin’ Away.
In 1999. all was captured and published on the Zort Music CD, Swingin’ Away and this version of the Shim Sham called by Frankie has become iconic and is played world-wide to celebrate Frankie. [sc_embed_player autoplay=true volume=”05″ fileurl=”http://frankiesavoyballny.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Frankie-Calls-Shim-Sham-at-F85.mp3″]
At the Centennial Ball , George again played the same arrangement of “Stompin’ At The Savoy.”
Following is Frankie’s Choreography for the Shim Sham:
First Chorus Shim Sham (3) Break Pushes (3) Crossovers Tack Annie (3) Break Half Breaks (2) Break Half Breaks (2) Break
Second Chorus Shim Sham (3) Freeze Pushes (3) Crossovers Tack Annie (3) Freeze Half Breaks (2) Freeze Half Breaks (2) Freeze
Third Chorus Boogie Backs (4) Boogie Fronts (4) Boogie Backs (4) Boogie Fronts (4) Boogie Backs (4) Shorty George (4) Boogie Backs (4) Shorty George (4)