Who Was Shorty George ? ... Some say 'Shorty George' is credited with renaming the Breakaway the Lindy Hop at a dance contest in 1927 at the "Inn at the Park" aka Madison Square Garden contests ( Later to be named Harvest Moon Ball) with 'Mattie Purnell', and later would do it again at the Manhattan Casino ( Some say the Rockland Palace ballroom) in New York in July of 1928. Charles Buchannon of the Savoy Ballroom also laid claim, but it was Shorty who actully named the dance, not Buchannon. Snowden's name also applies to a timeless dance step called 'the Shorty George' ( A.k.a. Boogie Walks,) which was originally said to be a variation of the Baltimore Buzz.... Shorty was an avid Ice Skater as well as a dancer and had high aspirations untill he broke both his legs.

    Shorty George danced at the Savoy Ballroom In New York and like Chic Webb was titled the 'King of the Savoy'. His dance troupe The

' Shorty George Trio' would inspire many dancers as well as lead to other dance troupes, namely the Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in the 1930s. However there was a rivalry between the money makers at the Savoy and Snowden whom they couldn't totally control  for their own profit which would eventually make him find greener pastures in other clubs. Shorty and his dancers would later dance in many shows at the Cotton Club and Small's Paradise with Small's eventually becoming his main home base.

    'Snowden danced up to the early 1940's, but had to retire his dancing due to bad knees and feet caused by his dancing. However he could still be seen out social dancing well into the 1950's. And as far as I know ( Was told) he passed away due to emphysema sometime in the 1980's ( Dates not verified.) Fred Astaire paid homage to Shorty by using the song "Shorty George" in two of his films, "Cover Girl" and "You Were Never Lovelier" and also sung the version in "Gilda." However the song was not written for this Shorty George.

    'note: I have also listed the various Shorty George songs and artist's because many of you have e-mailed me asking for variations to the original so to save us both the time of having to search them out on Amazon, I have added them here, the pages have preview clips..