Russ Morgan (April 29, 1904 in Scranton, Pennsylvania – August 7, 1969 in L… Read Full Bio ↴Russ Morgan (April 29, 1904 in Scranton, Pennsylvania – August 7, 1969 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was a Big Band orchestra leader.
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.
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.
Rock Of Ages
Russ Morgan Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Rock Of Ages' by these artists:
101 Strings Orchestra The Lords my shepherd I'll not want He makes me…
Acappella Rock of ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Al Green Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Alabama Rock of ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Amy Grant feat. Vince Gill Rock of ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Amy Grant/Vince Gill Rock of ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Angeline Here I am I've been gone for awhile I'll take on…
Ascend The Hill Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself…
Augustus Montague Toplady 1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself…
Ben Kweller Rock of Ages Let our song praise your saving power; You amid…
Bill & Gloria Gaither ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Bill & Gloria GaitherHomecoming Friends Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Bill Gaither ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Bing Crosby Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Black Prairie I am the rain too cool Late in the evening I am…
Blackwood Brothers We just want it all Uh, I'll take my keys off We…
Bryan Ferry Once again, you're the song I'm the one who turns the…
Charlie Hall Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself…
Chris Rice Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself…
Cristy Lane Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in…
Crossroad Rock of cges, cleft for me, let me hide myself in…
Def Leppard Gunter glieben glauchen globen All right, I got something t…
Def Leppard - Topic Gunter gleiben glauchen globen All right I got somethin' to …
Delaney %26 Bonnie And Friends ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Delaney & Bonnie And Friends ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Dustin Kensrue Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Eska My Rock of Ages too many nights I've tried Fighting sleep…
Feladey & Friends ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Fernando Ortega Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Free Kitten You think yr a loser, baby But you drive all the…
Gaither Reggie Smith Stephen Hill Joy Gardner & Vestal Goodman Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Gene Clark We stood there unable trying to keep warm To make the…
Gillian Welch [Chorus] Round, round, I wanna go round Wanna see the rock o…
Glad Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Grant Lee Buffalo Rock of Ages I am tumbling down Where the roots of trees Emb…
Hell's Black Roses Gunter gleiben glauchen globen All right I got somethin' to …
Hlengiwe Mhlaba Rock Of Ages Cleft For Me Let Me Hide Myself In Thee Rock…
Hovie Lister The Lords my shepherd I'll not want He makes me…
Hymns Triumphant Performers Rock of ages cleft for me. Let me hide myself from…
J. D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet Rock of Ages Cleft for me Let me hide myself in Thee Let…
Jim and Jesse Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself…
Jobriath So what if a-wop-bop-a loo-bam boom didn't rhyme Billy Haley…
Johnny Cash Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself…
Joslin Grove Choral Society The Lords my shepherd I'll not want He makes me…
Kelly Hansen Gunter glieben glauchen globen All right I got something t…
Lee Greenwood Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself…
Mahalia Jackson Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Maranatha Praise Nothing…
Marvia Providence Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in…
Metropolitan Boys Choir Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Millennial Choirs & Orchestras The Lords my shepherd I'll not want He makes me…
Mirah and Ginger Takahashi Rock of ages Are you comin' soon to carry me away? Love…
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself…
Neil Innes Rock of ages roll me over at this point in…
Nik Kershaw Babylon Bob just can’t get a job can’t pay his…
Norton Hall Band Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Page CXVI Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Paul Baloche There is no rock There is no god like our God No…
Perry Como Rock of ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Praise Band There is no rock There is no god like our God No…
Ray Price Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself…
Ray Smith/Joy Gardner/Stephen Hill/Vestal Goodman ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Reggie Smith Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Reggie Smith Joy Gardner Stephen Hill & Vestal Goodman ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Reggie Smith Joy Gardner Stephen Hill Vestal Goodman Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Reggie Smith Stephen Hill Vestal Goodman & Joy Gardner ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Relaxing Piano Music: Greatest Hymns: Best Loved Religious Hymns and Spirit Trials come on every hand And I cry Lord Won't you please…
Rev. Billy Graham Maoz tzur y'shuati l'cha naeh l'shabeach Tikon beit t'filati…
Rita Baloche There is no rock There is no God like us. No other…
Robin Mark There is no rock There is no god like our God No…
Ron Kenoly Rock of Ages You are faithful and true You are able to…
Ronnie Milsap Rock of ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Ruth Buchanan Rock of cges cleft for me Hide me now my refuge…
Salvation Army Band & Choir Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Saracen Who built the Rock of Ages, Tell me 'cause I wasn't…
Sunshine Gospel Singers & Choir Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Tennessee Ernie Ford 1. Rock of Ages, cleft…
The Blackwood Brothers We just want it all Uh, I'll take my keys off We…
The Duhks Round, round, wanna go round Wanna see the rock of ages Wh…
The Joslin Grove Choral Society Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
THE KING'S MESSENGERS QUARTET O God, our help in ages past Our hope for years…
The Maranatha! Praise Band Nothing…
The Modern Post Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir;Richard P. Condie;Alexander Schreiner;The Philadelphia Brass Ensemble & Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself…
The O.C. Mix 3 He is the King; He is the Son of God…
The Oak Ridge Boys Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
The Philadelphia Brass Ensemble & Percussion;The Mormon Tabernacle Choir;Richard P. Condie;Alexander Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself…
The Praise Band Nothing…
The Statler Brothers Rock of Ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
The Winchester's Gunter gleiben glauchen globen All right I got somethin′ to …
Thomas Kinkade The Lords my shepherd I'll not want He makes me…
Various Artists Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in…
Vestal Goodman ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN…
Vestal Goodman [feat. Reggie Smith Joy Gardner & Stephen Hill] Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in…
Wilds Choir And Orchestra The Lords my shepherd I'll not want He makes me…
WOW featuring Praise Band Nothing…
Def Leppard Gunter gleiben glauchen globen All right I got somethin' to …
We have lyrics for these tracks by Russ Morgan:
Among My Souvenirs There's nothing left for me of days that used to…
Bye Bye Blackbird No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Bye Bye Blues No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Charley Me Boy Charley is an ordinary fellow To most everyone but Flo,…
Cruising Down a River Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon With one you…
Dance With a Dolly As I was walkin′ down the street Down the street, down…
Does Your Heart Beat for Me Is the moonlight tonight enchanted, It fills me with longing…
Fine and Dandy Please forgive this platitude But I like your attitude You a…
Forever & Ever Forever and ever, my heart will be true Sweetheart, for eve…
Forever and Ever Forever and ever, my heart will be true Sweetheart, for ever…
Have You Heard? You must have been a beautiful baby, You must have…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there…
I Want You For Christmas Do your Christmas shopping right away And you'll avoid the r…
I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams Happiness comes with success And that I guess is true But …
Isle of Capri 't was on the Isle of Capri that I found…
Johnson Rag Johnson Flood Mississippi Mud Black Bottom I got 'em Lind…
Josephine There never was a gal I could love, like I…
Lambeth Walk Any time you're Lambeth way Any evening, any day, You'll fin…
Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow Oh the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so…
So Tired So tired of waiting for you So tired of longing for…
The Johnson Rag Johnson Flood Mississippi Mud Black Bottom I got 'em Lindy …
The Merry Go Round Broke Down The merry-go-round broke down As we went 'round and 'round E…
The Sheik Of Araby "I'm the Sheik of Araby, Your love belongs to me. At…
The Woodpecker Song He's up each morning bright and early To wake up…
There Goes That Song Again There goes that song again, we use to call our…
Woodpecker Song He's up each morning bright and early To wake up…
You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby You must have been a beautiful baby, You must have…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@dagonn3
So apparently repeating lines ad nauseum isn't a new thing in popular music.
Though I have to admit I don't care for The Andrews Sisters. I'm not saying they're bad, because they aren't, they just don't do it for me.
And obviously they didn't write the lyrics, so I'm not blaming them for that. I guess the public just enjoys hearing the same line 100 times in a song.
Far awaaaaay.... far awaaaay....