DEKE McGee
Mark ‘Deke’ McGee started playing Saxophone at the age of thirteen, after hearing Bill Doggetts 'Honky Tonk' played by the legendary Clifford Scott. He began studying the sound and the stylings of all the great Swing and Rhythm n’ Blues horn men of that era; Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Herschel Evans, Lee Allen, Sil Austin, Red Prysock, Big Al Sears, Plas Johnson, Sam 'the man' Taylor and the great Texas Tenor King Curtis.
He began working as a sideman with bands all over Europe and North America at many Jazz and Blues Festivals. This saw him recording, supporting and sharing the stage with names such as Buddy Guy, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, Big Joe Turner's Memphis Blues Caravan, Hamish Stuart, Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings, Phil Guy, Lazy Lester, Sugar Blue, Zoot Money, Otis Grand, George Melly, The Fratellis, Band Of Friends, Martin Stephenson, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Big George and the Business, The Nimmo Brothers, The Cobramatics, The Beatstalkers and many more.
Deke began writing and recording his own material in 2003, but put the project on hold for more than a decade whilst he built up his reputation as a teacher of the saxophone. In 2015 he started recording again and assembled "The Deke McGee Band" to showcase his original material live for the first time. "All Night Long" was released in April 2016.
