Keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter began playing music in early ‘70s then known as Wayne Mauler.
Wayne was a member of Today’s People, Hombre, before becoming known as Georgie E. Jessup as leader of the Jessup Band, the Jewels (see bio), then Wavelength. In addition, she played regularly as a solo artist, and hosted jams at the Three Nines on Washington Boulevard in Jessup.
Jessup recorded a three-song demo in 1997 using Annapolis drummer Richard King, along with ‘Cool Bob’ Shade (guitar), Keith ‘Mac’ McNamee (bass), Keith Hundertmark (organ), and Al Dahlstrom (sax) in 1987. It received great reviews from Maryland Musician Magazine. The songs were “That’s How It Is,” “That Kind of Love,” and “She’s Got the Touch.”
Jessup was one of the featured artists in the ad for the Maryland Musicians All Star Jam #1. They pictured Root Boy Slim, Georgie Jessup, Tom Lepson, and Nita Slater.
The group Winkte & Crazy Sacred Dogs (1990-93 – see bio) was Jessup’s first band after her transition. She was the first transgender musician to play mainstream rooms in the area.
In 1993 she recorded her first full length (10 songs) CD with many guest artists including Deanna Bogart, Aleta Greene, and Jay Turner. The CD “American Holocaust” remains in print through ‘00s. It was nominated for the 2004 Indian Summer Music Awards and won two Silver Arrow Awards as well.
Sweet Grass Smoke was a 2003 duo with Jessup and mandolin player David Salyers. They recorded a 7-song CD EP called “Red Cloud’s Room.” The CD featured the song “We Are Related” that was included on the Baltimore Songwriters Association compilation “From the Circle” and was nominated for a WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association award).
Georgie Jessup worked with co-producer engineer and multi-instrumentalist Billy Kemp to complete her 13-song masterpiece “Woman In a Man’s Suit.” The project started in 2002 and was completed in 2006.
As of this writing her most recent recording is the 2007 “Working Class Hero” recorded with her band Georgie Jessup & Big Love. Members included Justin Crown aka ‘The Wimp’ (bass/guitar), Jonathan Malfi (drums), Aaron Yealdhall (vocals), Lori Grigsby (vocals), Sandy Moyer (vocals). Earlier members of Big Love were Christina Van Norman (guitar, vocals), Demetrius Kakavas (drums), and Ken Gutberlet (guitar, mandolin).
Jessup is proud that she was nominated for 5 Wammie Awards in two years for her works “American Holocaust” and “Woman in A Man’s Suit.” She remarked that “as a transgender woman it speaks volumes about the respect my fellow musicians have for me to nominate me for Female Vocals! The next year they took the gender out of the mix and it was just for vocalist as a category for either male or female singers.”
Georgie Jessup discography:
1987(12”) Top Hat That’s How It Is
1993(CD) American Haulocost
2006(CD) Woman in A Man’s Suit
Sweet Grass Smoke:
2003(EP) Red Cloud’s Room
2003(CD) Sweet Grass Smoke
Georgie Jessup & Big Love:
2008(CD) Working Class Hero
