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.
Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart
Russ Morgan Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart' by these artists:
Attractions Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
B.Q.E. Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Barry Manilow & Judy Garland Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
Carmen Cavallaro Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Carmen Cavallaro And His Orchestra Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
Chet Atkins Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Demensions Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Diane Renay Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Dinah Shore Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
Donald Byrd Gigi Gryce Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Eckstine Billy Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
Eddy Howard Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Enoch Light & His Orchestra Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Furys Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Johnny Smith Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Judy Garland Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
June Christy Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
Kalin Twins Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Kirby Stone Four Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Pearl Bailey Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Pearl Bailey & Louie Bellson Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Red Norvo Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Ruth Etting Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
The Coasters Never could carry a tune Never knew where to start You came…
The Communards Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
The Dimensions Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
The Firebirds Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
The Furys Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
The Kalin Twins Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
The Move Dear, when you smile at me I hear a melody It haunted…
The Odd Persons Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
The Spaniels Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
Tony Evans And His Orchestra Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Trammps Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
Vi Velasco With Zoot Sims And His Orchestra Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Victor Young and His Orchestra Ever could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
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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