Fred Gee

Fred Melsom Edward Gee, impresario (b at Cardiff, Wales 21 July 1882; d at Winnipeg 8 June 1947). Active primarily as a church organist, accompanist and teacher in Winnipeg after immigrating to Canada in 1902, Gee's success in presenting occasional concerts by famous musicians encouraged him to become a full-time impresario. In 1927 he established the Celebrity Concert Series, which, during the remainder of Gee's life, delighted large Winnipeg audiences with its steady parade of stellar performers. In 1938 the series had 3500 subscribers and was considered the largest in North America. Gee expanded his enterprise to Brandon, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton. After his death, A. (Arthur) K. Gee, his eldest son, continued in concert management, bringing artists into the northern areas of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba until 1968.