Born into a Welsh family, Russ Morgan was encouraged to express himself musically from the tender age of seven. His ability had come naturally since his father, a coal-mine foreman, was a former musician who played drums in the local band in his spare time with his mother, before her marriage, had been a pianist in a vaudeville act. Almost at the same age that he began to study piano, he began to work in the mines in order to earn money to help support his family and pay for his lessons.
At the age of fourteen, he earned extra money as a pianist performing in a theater in his hometown. With his extra money, he purchased another instrument: a trombone. In 1921, he used the trombone while working with a local band called the Scranton Sirens. This band became one of the hottest in the Pennsylvania area during the 1920s. In fact some of its alumni, such as Jimmy Dorsey on sax and clarinet, Billy Lustig on violin and Tommy Dorsey on trombone (who took Russ's place when he left the organization) went on to become famous.
[edit] Early career
At eighteen, he decided to try and further his career by going to New York. By 1925, at the age of twenty-one, he arranged for both John Philip Sousa and Victor Herbert. He then continued to gain experience by joining Paul Specht's orchestra and toured throughout Europe with the orchestra. Contemporaries of Morgan's in this orchestra were among greats – names like Arthur Schutt, Don Lindley, Chauncey Morehouse, Orville Knapp, Paul Whiteman, Charlie Spivak and Artie Shaw also played in this orchestra during the 1920s.
Upon returning from the European tour, Jean Goldkette invited him to Detroit to organize, lead and arrange for his new band. Some members of the now immortal all-star Goldkette orchestra were his old associates from former days. The band included Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Chauncey Morehouse, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Bix Beiderbecke and Fuzzy Farrar.
For a short time, in 1934, he arranged for Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra. In 1935, he then played trombone with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band when they recorded four sides for Vocalion. On September 12, 1935, Russ playing piano and Joe Venuti on violin cut two sides for Brunswick, “Red Velvet” and “Black Satin.” Most of the songs were written by Russ and Joe.
[edit] Radio work
His biggest success in the music world came when he was offered the post of Musical Director for Detroit Radio Station WXYZ. His show, "Music in the Morgan Manner", became one of the most popular radio shows. At one time, during his radio run, he was directing nine commercial programs. While in Detroit, he arranged for the Detroit 102 piece Symphony Orchestra thus demonstrating once again his varied musical experience and ability.
In the early 1930s, Russ was in an automobile accident that almost ended his career. After several months in the hospital he decided to start again in New York City. He became arranger for bands like the George White Scandals, The Cotton Club Revue and the Capitol Theatre. When not arranging for the various Broadway shows, he worked with leading orchestras in New York, such as Phil Spitalny, Eddie Gilligan, Ted Fio Rito and Freddy Martin, as pianist and/or trombonist.
He then joined the Freddy Martin Orchestra in 1934 as a piano player. He worked chiefly as trombonist and arranger with the band. While working with Martin's orchestra, he also worked as a musical director at Brunswick Records back in New York. It was here that he met the future Mrs. Morgan, Shirley Gray, whom he married in 1939.
[edit] Career
While at Brunswick, he met Rudy Vallee, who was impressed with Morgan's musical ability. He insisted he form an orchestra of his own. He then invited Russ to appear as a guest on his popular Fleishman Yeast radio show. Vallee was also instrumental in getting Morgan in his first engagement in New York City, along with his own orchestra at the Biltmore Hotel. This first engagement was indicative of the audiences' reaction to Morgan's appearances. He started with a four-week contract. But the contract extended and Morgan remained at the hotel for two years. In the next few years, he was able to add musical directorship to the Rinso-Lifebuoy Show on NBC for thirty-nine weeks and the Philip Morris radio series on NBC and CBS for two years to his growing list of achievements.
Some of his other triumphs were his record-breaking runs in famed hotels, ballrooms and theatres across the country. A few of these engagements were at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles; Claremont Hotel, California; Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago; Aragon and Trianon, Chicago; Strand, Chicago; the Statler Hotel, New York; Orpheum, Los Angeles; Palladium, Hollywood; to name a few.
[edit] Chart success
In 1949, four songs he recorded made it big on the charts. They were "So Tired", "Cruising Down the River", "Sunflower" and "Forever and Ever." On the latter he used a vocal quartet that was just starting out and would later become famous as the Ames Brothers. 1949 was his big year.
Alan Herbert, the Morning Man on the American Forces Network Radio Station in Bremen, Germany played Morgan's "So Tired," liked the tune and played it almost daily, to the delight of his American and British audience in 1947-48. It was easily the most requested song played on the station. Herbert takes some credit for putting it on the charts, as service men and women requested it from their local stations when they got back home.
[edit] Later career / death
During the 1950s, his orchestra continued to be a popular one for dancing and listening music. He continued to set house records with his appearances in California and New York as well as his many tours across the entire nation. During this decade, it was mostly the long-established veteran "sweet bands" that were supplying the music for dancers, and Russ Morgan was one of them. The veterans included Jan Garber, Sammy Kaye, Wayne King, Guy Lombardo, Freddy Martin and Lawrence Welk.
In 1958, Morgan's nineteen-piece band had been reduced to eleven men, with his sons Jack Morgan on trombone and David Morgan on guitar. In 1965, he was then booked for an eight-week engagement at the Top O' The Strip at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. However, it ended up lasting until 1977, a total of twelve years.
He died in 1969 at the age of sixty-five. Morgan’s son, Jack, took over the leadership. He has led the band ever since.
For his contributions for recording, he has a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Dance With A Dolly
Russ Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down the street, down the street
I met somebody who was mighty sweet
Mighty fair to see
I asked her would she like to have a talk
Have a talk, make some talk
All the fellows standin' on the walk
Mama, mama, let me dress up tonight
Dress up tonight, dress up tonight
I've got a secret, gonna 'fess up tonight
Gonna dance by the light of the moon
Gonna dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockin′
While our knees keep a-knockin′ and our toes keep a-rockin'
Dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockin′
Dance by the light of the moon
Gonna dance by the light of the moon
Gonna dance by the light of the moon
By the light of the moon
Mama, mama, put the cat out tonight
Cat out tonight, cat out tonight
Worked all day, I'm gonna scat out tonight
And I won′t be home until dawn
Gonna dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockin'
While our knees keep a-knockin′ and our toes keep a-rockin'
Dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockin'
Dance by the light of the moon
Gonna dance by the light of the moon
Gonna dance by the light of the moon
The lyrics to Russ Morgan's song "Dance With a Dolly" are about a man who meets a woman while walking down the street. He finds her attractive and asks her if she wants to talk. The other men on the street are jealous of him for getting to talk to her. The man then asks his mother if he can dress up and go out for the night. He has a secret that he wants to share, which is that he is planning to dance with a woman who has a hole in her stockings by the light of the moon. The man is excited to dance with this woman and he plans to dance all night until dawn.
The song is a lighthearted and upbeat tune that captures the joy of dancing with someone special. It highlights the excitement of meeting someone new and the joy of spending time together. Additionally, the song speaks to the innocence and simplicity of the time it was written in, with its playful lyrics about dancing with a woman who has a hole in her stockings.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walkin' down the street
While taking a walk down the street
I met somebody who was mighty sweet
I encountered someone who was attractive and appealing in appearance
I asked her would she like to have a talk
I inquired if she would like to converse
All the fellows standin' on the walk, wishin' they were me
The onlookers were envious of me for having the opportunity to speak with her
Mama, mama, let me dress up tonight
Mother, please let me wear my nice clothes tonight
I've got a secret, gonna 'fess up tonight
I have a confidential plan that I will reveal tonight
Gonna dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockin'
I will dance with a girl who has a rip in her stockings
While our knees keep a-knockin' and our toes keep a-rockin'
Our knees and toes will keep moving rhythmically while we dance
Mama, mama, put the cat out tonight
Mother, please make sure the cat is outside tonight
Worked all day, I'm gonna scat out tonight
I have worked all day and now I am going out for the night
And I won't be home until dawn
I will not return home until dawn
Gonna dance by the light of the moon
I will dance in the moonlight
By the light of the moon
In the moon's illumination
Gonna dance by the light of the moon
I will dance while illuminated by the moon's light
Writer(s): David Kapp, Jimmy Eaton, Terry Shand
Contributed by Keira M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Edwin Harvey
This is the song they used in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". They called it "Buffalo Gals".
cofagrigus
07 - We'll be walking down the streets
Pomika
3 - 7 The Generics Again