Stick McGhee
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Granville "Stick" McGhee (March 23, 1917 – August 15, 1961) was an American guitarist (Brownie McGhee's younger brother) best known for "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee", one of the earliest prototypical rock and roll songs, which Jerry Lee Lewis memorably covered. The song lent its name to the alcoholic fruit drink "spodi"; the spo-dee-o-dee was a scat substitute for the original motherfucker.
He grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee and first recorded "Drinkin' Wine" in 1947 to little fanfare. A remake in 1949 (as Stick McGhee & His Buddies) became a huge R&B hit. 1951's "Tennessee Waltz Blues" was another hit, as were several following singles, including "Jungle Juice", "Double Crossin' Liquor" "Six to Eight" and "Head Happy with Wine".
He earned his nickname Stick by pushing his polio-stricken older brother Brownie through the streets of Kingsport on a cart that he propelled with a stick.
'Stick' McGhee died of lung cancer in 1961.
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