Saturday, May 26th is the amazing Frankie Manning’s 93rd birthday. He’s one of the originators of the Lindy Hop, and he’s still dancing, performing, and making people happy all over the world.
That’s also the day I hope you’ll join a world-wide campaign to make his autobiography – Frankie Mannie: Ambassador of Lindy Hop a best-seller on Amazon.
One of the great joys of my life is that I occasionally get to take a Savoy Lindy Hop class from Frankie Manning, who is to the Lindy as Fred Astaire is to soft shoe. Having had the pleasure of dancing with the man who was one of the inventors of the Linday at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the Jazz Age of the 20s and 30s, I know his grace, his charm, his remarkable sense of humor, and the joy he brings to everyone he meets.
I was lucky enough to be one of the women he danced with on his 90th and 91st birthdays. He danced with one woman for each year. And he wasn’t even tired.
Frankie is celebrating in France, and he’s still traveling, teaching, and dancing all over the world. It would be great to honor him by turning his book into a best- seller on his birthday. Swing Dance community Yehoodi is offering a special “goodie bag” of Swing stuff to people who buy the book on the 26th.
Bette Midler, student and fan of Frankie Manning’s says:
“A poet of the dance floor. This book is a must read for any one who loves the dance, amateur or professional. What a life he has lived, and thank God he remembers it all!”
Related: Frankie Manning: Dancing is Falling in Love
– Frankie Manning Dance Class: if he doesn’t make you feel good, well, honey, nothing will.
– Happy 92nd Birthday to Frankie Manning, King of Swing
– Frankie Manning, 91, Celebrates Birthplace of the Lindy Hop With 400 Dancers
– Happy 91st Birthday to the Great Frankie Manning, The King of Swing
Happy Birthday Frankie – You Rock!
UPDATE, Sunday: We did it! We did it! Frankie’s book is Number 16 7 overall and Number 1 in Entertainment on Amazon today. Yay!!!
And here’s a message directly from Frankie Manning, whose in France right now but been kept apprised of all the results:
“I would like to thank all you guys, you ladies and gentlemen, for buying the book and making this the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and hope that you enjoy reading the book of my life as much as I enjoyed living this life.”
Keep swinging!
