On May 26th, Lindy Hoppers from all over the world will be celebrating Swing dancer extraordinaire Frankie Manning (and coined by dancers all over as the “Ambassador of the Lindy Hop”). Frankie was a leading dancer at Harlem’s legendary Savoy Ballroom where, in the mid-1930s, he revolutionized the course of the lindy hop with his innovations, including the lindy air step and synchronized ensemble lindy routine.

Frankie also lived to be 94 which is what allowed him to reach newer generations later in life (I even got to meet him. Picture at the end).

Frankie Manning's Favourite Big Band Swing Music

He also was a HUGE lover of Swing Era Big Band Music, maybe it’s because he lived to see so many of those band perform live (Frankie was born May 26th, 1914). I too love this music and that is one of the reasons why I love the Lindy Hop.

So for today’s post in honour of May 26th, I thought it would be fun to share some of Frankie’s favourite swing music from a 2007 album I found online. I will even try to share any videos with him dancing to any of the matching songs if they exist.

If you are a fan of big band music, this post is for you! If you are looking to dance to Frankie’s favourite songs? This post is for you! Enjoy!

The Album: Really Swingin’: Frankie Manning’s Big Band Favorites – various artists. An Essential. One of the best ways to start your collection, this album contains 16 tracks of big band swing music picked out by the man himself, Frankie Manning.

Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson Vintage Dance Photo
Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson Source: Pinterest

The Swing Era Big Band Songs

==> Playlist: Listen on Spotify Here

1. Shiny Stockings – Count Basie & His Orchestra

Frankie Manning and Norma Miller Dancing to Shiny Stockings at Frankie 85 at Roseland Ballroom, NYC 1999 (Video link).

Who was Norma aka the Queen of Swing? Take a read here: Women of the Big Band Era Everyone Should Know Part 1


2. Swingin’ At Newport – Count Basie & His Orchestra

Swingin At Newport (Live (1957/Newport)) · Count Basie (video link).


3. Jersey Bounce – Benny Goodman

“Jersey Bounce” was far-and-away Goodman’s most popular instrumental hit of the 1940s, spending twenty weeks in the national top-10, six of them peaked at #2 (video link).


4. T’aint What You Do – Jimmie Lunceford AKA THE SHIM SHAM (video link)

About the Shim Sham:

The Shim Sham was originally a tap routine that become a popular routine for finale’s where the entire cast of a show would do this routine. Leonard Reed was said to have choreographed the Goofus which was a tap routine that sparked it all. From the Vaudeville finale it made it’s was to New York. It got changed and simplified and eventually you end up with this version of the Shim Sham for Lindy Hoppers.

Then during the Swing Dance revival, Frankie Manning taught it around the world and it has been whole heartedly adopted by lindy hoppers. When this songs plays at a swing event, anywhere in the world, you will get a bunch or people dancing this routine (Source).

Learn the Shim Sham from Frankie Manning & Erin Stevens in 1995 (video link).


5. Begin The Beguine – Artie Shaw (video link)


6. Hamp’s Boogie Woogie – Lionel Hampton & His Septet (video link)


7. Let’s Get Together – Duke Ellington & His Orchestra (video link)


8. Tuxedo Junction – Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra (video link).

The below video from 1997 is of Frankie teaching ‘The Tranky Doo’ (a famous line dance) that he choreographed. It is also called the ‘Frankie Doo’ as there are two versions of this dance.


9. Segue In C – Duke Ellington & Count Basie (video link)


10. Posin’ – Jimmie Lunceford (video link)


11. In The Mood – Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (video link)


12. Tippin’ In – Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra (video link)


13. Flying Home – Lionel Hampton & His Septet (video link)

I have seen this clip a million times and it still gives me the chills, it’s so good!

The Lindy Hop Swing Dance Scene from 1992 movie Malcolm X featuring Denzel Washington, Spike Lee. Choreographed with the help of Frankie Manning (blue suit) & Norma Miller (yellow dress) also performed in the scene. Otis Sallid/Choreographer.

Song is “Flying Home” by Lionel Hampton. Great Aerials, Floorials, Jitterbug, Charleston, – one of the best Lindy Hop Swing Dance Scenes in a movie. Background dancers include Dawn Hampton & Ryan Francois.


14. Take The ‘A’ Train – Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra (video link).

This is a segment from the film Reveille with Beverly from 1943; the song was composed in 1939.


15. One O’ Clock Jump – Count Basie & His Orchestra (video link)


16. Corner Pocket – Count Basie & His Orchestra (video link)

I hope you enjoyed these fantastic swing tunes and maybe even got in a dance. I know I’m looking forward to dancing to all these tunes at Toronto Lindy Hop World Lindy Hop Big Band Dance on June 1st, 2024. See you there maybe!

Share your favourite song in the comments section below!

Frankie Manning in Toronto
Liz & Frankie Manning

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

4 Comments on Frankie Manning’s Favourite Big Band Swing Music

  1. I asked Frankie this same question when I interviewed him for my column in Dancing USA back in the 90s. He use to teach at our Philly swing dance. I mentioned that there were two white band leaders that were known for also being dancers. One of them, Benny Goodman, but Frankie didn’t think Benny was such a hot dancer.

    Reply

  2. Spike Lee played a character called Shorty George in the film Malcolm X. Frankie did the choreography for it. There is a scene where some woman yells, “Hye Shorty” to Spike. The camera then cuts away to some guy doing the Shorty George. I asked Frankie about this scene, but he said he had nothing to do with it.

    Reply

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