He is a lead guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter,
producer and actor born Gerald James McGee born in Eunice, Louisiana, whose
father was a well-known Cajun fiddler.He began his professional career in music when he was 14
and in the following years he toured with Buddy White and Will Mack as part
of the trio Buddy White & The Knights, did a tour of military service
and lived and recorded in Atlanta for a time. He moved to California after they had split up in
1959/1960 at the suggestion of Rick Nelson's guitarist, James Burton, and
became an actor and active in the studio musician.He worked with many artists that
include Booker T & the MGs, Jimmy Buffett, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Darin, Delaney
& Bonnie, The Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry
Lee Lewis, The Monkees, Patti Paige, Elvis Presley, Jerry Reed, Linda
Ronstadt, Nancy Sinatra, Ray Stevens and Dwight Yoakam. He was the lead
guitarist for the successful instrumental group The Ventures from 1968
until 1973 and returned to them in 1984, still going to Japan with them
every year to perform concerts.Singles he has appeared on include "Alley-Oop" by the Hollywood
Argyles as well as his own 45 releases.The many
albums he appears on include his own Friends from a Distance and
My Guitar Memories, over 20 albums with The Ventures and Havana
Daydreamin' by Jimmy Buffett, Sounds from Home by Delaney
Bramlett, Portraits by Emmylou Harris, Monkees, Instant Replay,Listen to the Band, Missing Links Vol. 3, The Birds, The Bees & The
Monkees and Music Box by The Monkees, Live a Little, Love a
Little/Charro!/The Trouble With Girls/Change of Habit by Elvis Presley,
Home and Away by Del Shannon, Honky Tonk Heroes by Billy Joe
Shaver, Blame the Vain by Dwight Yoakam and the soundtracks of Great
Balls of Fire. As an actor on television and in the movies he has appeared
in films such as A Star is Born, Bloodrage, The Burning, Convoy, Heaven's
Gate and Playing for Keeps and on TV series such as L.A. Law
and North and South and he has also composed many film scores and
contributed works to various soundtracks.
