sad to find out he's passed. it's quite wonderful that he affected so many lives in his long life.

rest in peace, dear man!

sj

I miss you Frankie.

RIP, Frankie. Every time I was lucky enough to be in a room with you, you inspired me yet again. Every single time.

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/3479707535_a36d93052e.jpg"> (chicago, october 2005)

I have other more conventional pictures, but this will always be my favorite:

I will never forget the brief, but wonderfully quiet and private, time we spent together.

I used to watch and re-watch Hellzapoppin' for hours, trying to get inside those moves. When I finally met the curious-looking gentleman with the broad grin and gentle countenance, I couldn't believe he was the guy everyone called "muscle head." This was the force of nature that had inspired thousands, no hundreds of thousands, throughout the generations and diverse cultures all over the world. His every movement was a celebration, and his exuberance was infectious. And I, like every other lindy hopper, lost myself and found myself in his dance.

Calling him an amazing, groundbreaking performer would've been an understatement and yet even his legendary dance career wasn't the most striking thing about him. It was his grace and elegance as a human being that captivated everyone who has ever laid eyes on him.

Frankie, you ignited a community through your passion and sustained it through your generosity of spirit. And that community gave this girl from Philly so much more than just a hobby it gave me the best friends of my life, and it led to a new job, a new city, and a relationship with the man who would eventually become my wonderful husband. I rarely go dancing anymore, but even so, your impact is felt everyday.

The word "gratitude" is too coarse and limiting. I'm a writer, but I find that words are failing me right now. All I can say is:

Thank you, Mr. Manning. Thank you for my life.

Quoted from "redbean"
I never met Frankie (so sadly), but he's been a gigantic force in my life, nonetheless. He inspires me every day to greater joy, greater kindness, greater generosity and greater passion. If my life is one quarter as well lived as his, I will count myself lucky.

Beautifully said. I never got to meet him either and yet my life was deeply touch by him and his great work.

God bless you Frankie. Thank you so much for everything

I remember when I was a new dancer taking a lesson from him...must have been in 2001 or so and the room was packed. He was teaching a move that none of the leads I danced with were actually leading, so I ended up fake following it because I knew what it should look like. Anyways, as he passed me while walking around the floor I asked him quietly "what is the lead for this move supposed to feel like?". He seemingly ignored me and walked back up to the front of the room and said "This little lady just asked me what the lead for this move should feel like" and he motioned me to come up and then preceded to lead me through it. I was so nervous and I remember thinking to myself "don't screw up, don't screw up!". He led so perfectly, it was effortless to follow. I forget exactly what he said next but the gist was about the leads actually leading and the follows following what is actually being led... I was so embarrassed because I had ended up dissing all of the leads I had just danced with...oops...

I remember that his dancing was so smooth and clean. He had so much respect towards other people, didn't matter if they had been dancing only a day or for years. Old, young, black, white..it never seemed to matter to him. Women were always ladies and men were gentlemen.

Those of us who had the pleasure of meeting and dancing with him are truly blessed, and those who danced during his lifetime were lucky to see and feel his inspiration and passion for the dance reflected in everyone on the floor.

Lets not loose this feeling for the next generation of dances who have yet to discover swing, lets be sure to pass on what he taught us with a smile and carry on his, and every other swing masters legacy.

Rest your feet in peace Frankie. You will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

-Nicole Barden, originally from Sacramento, CA

Thank you, Frankie. May the love we feel for you be extended to everyone we dance with, old or young, newbie or veteran.

I had the privilege of first meeting Frankie back in 1999, and will never forget the great tribute he received at GNDC in 2006. He was an incredible inspiration.

RIP Frankie, and thank you for everything.

Now heavenzapoppin' too.

Frankie was an amazing human being. I've never heard such an inspiring speaker and feel fortunate that I've been in his presence. I started to tear up at LindyFest this year when he played the song at the end of his talk.

I had the pleasure of learning from him many years ago after only been dancing for 4 months, but he gave me the best advice for a beginner. "Keep smiling with your lady, and the rest comes naturally after that."

We miss you already. You have been an inspiration to all of us and to the world.

Keep Swinging In The Clouds!

I'm comforted knowing that he died knowing how much he meant to untold numbers of dancers, musicians, bandleaders, teachers, jazz lovers, and human beings generally. He lived a joyful and honorable life with the remarkable addition of true appreciation in his lifetime, both early and late.

All lindy hoppers and swing people generally seem to feel instinctively that it's their sacred duty to carry the torch of the history and heroes (both everyday and dazzlingly great, like Frankie) of this music and dance. I pledge to do whatever I can to help keep it a living, shouting, kicking, jumping living tradition for as long as I live. Here's to you, Frankie.

I remember when I started swing dancing at Sandra Cameron Dance Center how fast I wanted to move up to Int/Adv. level so I can take his class. It was wonderful from day one! He was a wonderful man. Frankie would never show up to class without a smile on his face no matter what size the class was.

I was incredibly honored the many times I was able to assist him with his class &amp; he would then thank me at the end of class with a hug. I will truly miss him! The skills he taught me will always be with me especially on the swing dance floor!

Rest In Peace Frankie. Love you!

It's incredibly strange that I visited Yehoodi just now for the first time in many months. Perhaps somehow I knew.

I'm sad for the dance community, and for all those close to Frankie, but I'm not the slightest bit sad for the man himself. Frankie had an absurdly great life. May each and every one of us live nine and a half decades, travel the world, be admired by millions, leave a lasting legacy, and have impossibly much fun and class doing it. I would be happy on my deathbed knowing that my life had been half as fine as Frankie Manning's.

There are very few people I admire more, and literally no one that I envy more. Thanks for everything, Frankie: the classes, the encouragement, the parties, and for just being who you are.

I met Frankie at Lindyfest in March of this year, just six weeks ago. I talked with him for all of two minutes before a crowd of other people jumped in on us. I only had that time to introduce myself, thank him for all he's done and that it was an honor to finally meet him. "Steve from Chicago? Well it's my pleasure, I'm Frankie."

His soul session on Sunday was awe-inspiring. He told tales of old, what it was like with all the bands that we can only listen to now. He closed it by lip-synching "You Make Me Feel So Young." I tell you, I have not cried in a long time. And that set me off. I left that theatre that afternoon with a new sense of purpose. The torch has been passed. We need to carry this on.

He signed my book "To Steve, keep dancing. Frankie Manning." I will, Frankie. I will. You will be missed.