John C. Gee

Born London 27 October 1927; died London 14 June 2014. Manager of the Marquee club from 1968 1970, John Gee is one of key figures of the club who turned the focus of the club to new music styles. Often described as a Frank Sinatra freak who had no appreciation for new styles of music, John Gee was in fact a man completely committed to the development of jazz music in the UK and was the one who bid for it's fusion with new forms of music. Under the banner of "New Paths", Gee gave an opportunity to bands like Jethro Tull , Circus and King Crimson on the Sunday nights of 1969. The figure of John Gee is also associated with the birth of the rhythm and blues days in London. Gee became secretary of the club in 1968 and a year later, under his influence, the club had extended it's offer from Thursdays to a three night schedule (Monday, Thursday and Sunday).