GERRY MCGEE
The son of legendary Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee, guitar wizard Gerry McGee will forever be known as the man who replaced surf-rock titan Nokie Edwards in the The Ventures in 1968. As a hired gun on two Monkees' albums, McGee conceived one of the most famous licks of all time on "Last Train to Clarksville" and later filled Ry Cooder's shoes in Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. But his career stretches back to the '50s, when he played with former Gene Vincent sidemen Buddy White and Bill Mack. Leaving Louisiana for Los Angeles, McGee has backed a who's who of pop music: Bobby Darin, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson, Delaney and Bonnie, and Kris Kristofferson. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Ventures, McGee is the subject of Pat Mire's 2014 documentary titled "Sushi & Sauce Piquante."