Lee Morgan (10 July 1938 - 19 February 1972) was an American hard-bop jazz … Read Full Bio ↴Lee Morgan (10 July 1938 - 19 February 1972) was an American hard-bop jazz trumpeter.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Morgan was a jazz prodigy, joining the Dizzy Gillespie big band at 18, remaining a member for two years. In 1956 he began recording as a leader, mainly for the Blue Note label; eventually he recorded twenty-five albums for the company. Morgan's principal influence as a player was Clifford Brown, having had direct contact with him before Brown's premature death.
He was also a featured sideman on several early Hank Mobley records, and John Coltrane's Blue Train. Joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1958 further developed his talent as a soloist and writer. He toured with Blakey for a few years, and was featured on Moanin, which is probably Blakey's best known recording. When Benny Golson left the Jazz Messengers, Morgan persuaded Blakey to hire Wayne Shorter, a young tenor saxophonist, to fill the chair. This classic version of the Jazz Messengers, including Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt would record the classic The Freedom Rider album.
Morgan tried to move in to the more advanced areas of the music in the early 1960s. He left the Jazz Messengers in 1961, struggling with heroin addiction, managing to kick his habit in his hometown. He returned to the music scene after a two-year absence, playing on Grachan Moncur III's essentially avant-garde Evolution album (his favourite work), and experimenting on some of his own recordings such as the title track of Search for the New Land (1964), but the popularity of his famous album, The Sidewinder, featuring Joe Henderson precluded his career developing in this way.
The title track of that record cracked the pop charts in 1964 and served as the background theme for Chrysler commercials during the World Series. The Sidewinder's crossover success in a rapidly changing pop music market caused Blue Note to rush the track's "Boogaloo" sound to market. This is evidenced in the mid-60s output of many Blue Note stars, including Morgan, and some of the lesser artists in the stable, releasing albums with modified and rythmically punchy blues tracks, such as "Yes I Can, No You Can't" on Morgan's own The Gigolo. In 1964 Morgan rejoined the Jazz Messengers, after his successor Freddie Hubbard departed, which had now become a sextet with the addition of Curtis Fuller to the group.
Alongside this commercial success, Morgan continued to record prolifically, producing such works as Search For the New Land which reached the top 20 of the R&B charts. His work became increasingly more modal and free towards the end of the sixties. He had begun to lead his own group, featuring Bernie Maupin as a multi-reedist.
Lee Morgan was murdered by his common-law wife, Helen More, with whom he was breaking up, following an argument between sets at Slug's, a popular New York City jazz club.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Morgan was a jazz prodigy, joining the Dizzy Gillespie big band at 18, remaining a member for two years. In 1956 he began recording as a leader, mainly for the Blue Note label; eventually he recorded twenty-five albums for the company. Morgan's principal influence as a player was Clifford Brown, having had direct contact with him before Brown's premature death.
He was also a featured sideman on several early Hank Mobley records, and John Coltrane's Blue Train. Joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1958 further developed his talent as a soloist and writer. He toured with Blakey for a few years, and was featured on Moanin, which is probably Blakey's best known recording. When Benny Golson left the Jazz Messengers, Morgan persuaded Blakey to hire Wayne Shorter, a young tenor saxophonist, to fill the chair. This classic version of the Jazz Messengers, including Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt would record the classic The Freedom Rider album.
Morgan tried to move in to the more advanced areas of the music in the early 1960s. He left the Jazz Messengers in 1961, struggling with heroin addiction, managing to kick his habit in his hometown. He returned to the music scene after a two-year absence, playing on Grachan Moncur III's essentially avant-garde Evolution album (his favourite work), and experimenting on some of his own recordings such as the title track of Search for the New Land (1964), but the popularity of his famous album, The Sidewinder, featuring Joe Henderson precluded his career developing in this way.
The title track of that record cracked the pop charts in 1964 and served as the background theme for Chrysler commercials during the World Series. The Sidewinder's crossover success in a rapidly changing pop music market caused Blue Note to rush the track's "Boogaloo" sound to market. This is evidenced in the mid-60s output of many Blue Note stars, including Morgan, and some of the lesser artists in the stable, releasing albums with modified and rythmically punchy blues tracks, such as "Yes I Can, No You Can't" on Morgan's own The Gigolo. In 1964 Morgan rejoined the Jazz Messengers, after his successor Freddie Hubbard departed, which had now become a sextet with the addition of Curtis Fuller to the group.
Alongside this commercial success, Morgan continued to record prolifically, producing such works as Search For the New Land which reached the top 20 of the R&B charts. His work became increasingly more modal and free towards the end of the sixties. He had begun to lead his own group, featuring Bernie Maupin as a multi-reedist.
Lee Morgan was murdered by his common-law wife, Helen More, with whom he was breaking up, following an argument between sets at Slug's, a popular New York City jazz club.
Totem Pole
Lee Morgan Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Totem Pole' by these artists:
Bruce Cockburn Crows are flying baby and I'm tired of the cold Crows…
Buck 65 This is for us, us, and not for anybody else.…
Dan Sartain Well I only fall for girls That are gonna break my…
Screeching Weasel Where exactly do I stand today? Number one in line Or as…
The Bongos I'm a totem pole 'got a wooden soul I can count backwards Y…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lee Morgan:
Candy Some say that love is sweet as a rose, Some say…
Lady Lady Hear me tonight Cause my feeling Is just so right A…
Little T Why do you hate us? I don't hate you You gettin' up…
P.S. I Love You As I write this letter, send my love to you Remember…
Rio Vai coração doente Veja que tem na frente Olhos que querem…
The Lady Lady Hear me tonight Cause my feeling Is just so right A…
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Andrew Pengelly
Unbelievable drumming by Billy Higgins, it really propels the outstanding solos by Morgan and Henderson.
Wayne Colburn
I was impressed by his drumming. It really moved the music forward. Great stuff
Anthony Cardott
I enjoy telling my few real metal friends that Billy Higgins' playing on "Gigolo" is the beginning of metal, they're like uggghhhh, wuuuutttt?
Andrew Pengelly
@Anthony Cardott Anthony. Interesting that you mention 'Gigalo", probably my favorite Morgan tune, it takes jazz into the stratosphere. I never related it to metal, of which I am ignorant, but I see how that could be the case. I also see the tune as a template for the Allman Brothers dual guitar techniques with power drumming and percussion, as per instrumentals such as 'Jessica' and 'Elizabeth Reid'.
Ready-Adhesiveness40
Lee and Joe are really in a great groove with each other on this one, I can listen to this stuff all day long and it won't get old!
Thomas Hughes
I love the single beat call-and-response between them. So tight you couldn't slip a razor blade between them!
D Mason
Blue Note did such a great job presenting not only the music, but the album art, the stills, and the liner notes. Nowadays it's point, click and 8 seconds later music. 70% of the experience is gone.
Ready-Adhesiveness40
Love the Blue Note graphics. Classy, clean and worthy of the music inside.
Postatility
An accurate example of our modern-day attention span, was your on-the-money comment!
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