Colonel Robert Morris facts for kids

Robert Neill Morris, known as Colonel Robert Morris, was an American musician. Born on December 12, 1954, he was a talented drummer, singer, and songwriter. People sometimes called him "The Man with the Golden Pen."

Colonel Morris was famous for playing drums with Charlie Feathers. He also wrote and performed the hit song "Trucker's Last Ride," which sold a lot of copies and became a "gold record."

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Robert Morris was born in 1954 in Whitehaven, Memphis. He grew up surrounded by music. His father was a guitarist and knew famous musicians like Bill Monroe, who often visited their home. Young Robert even spent a day boating with Elvis Presley, another friend of his father.

Music Career

Morris started playing drums in clubs around Memphis when he was young. He became part of the Memphis blues scene and helped create the unique "Memphis Sound." He played with many legendary artists like B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, and Ma Rainey.

Later, he played drums for other big names such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Ronnie Milsap, and Charlie Rich. He spent almost five years playing for Charlie Feathers. During this time, he also recorded music at the famous Sun Studios in Memphis.

1980s Highlights

In 1988, the Finnish band Leningrad Cowboys made a movie called Leningrad Cowboys Go America. Part of the movie was filmed in Memphis. Robert Morris and his wife, Irene, owned a place called the "Lonesome Bar," which was used for a scene in the movie. They even appeared briefly in that scene!

During the 1980s, Morris also recorded music with Cordell Jackson on her record label. He once shared the stage with a young Justin Timberlake at the Memphis Fall Fest. Justin sang Hank Williams songs, wearing a cowboy hat.

Becoming a Songwriter

In the 1990s, Robert Morris began writing songs seriously. He heard a touching story about a truck driver named Doug Maten, who died from cancer. Doug's last wish was to be taken to his grave in his truck. His friends made this happen, and a long convoy of trucks carried him to his final resting place.

This story inspired Morris to write "Trucker's Last Ride." The song became a huge success, earning a "gold record." For his achievements, Morris received the key to the City of Memphis and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Memphis Music Heritage Foundation.

In 1998, he was given the special title of "Colonel aide-de-camp" by the governor of Tennessee. After that, he was known as Colonel Robert Morris, or simply "The Colonel." He also received awards from the governors of Mississippi and Tennessee. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Traditional Country Hall of Fame.

Later Years and Legacy

In 2008, Colonel Morris released a trucking-themed album called Highway Hero, which included his famous song "Trucker's Last Ride." In 2013, he filmed a music video for the song. The video was released online on channels like CMT / MTV and YouTube.

After Colonel Morris passed away, TM Garret continued his work and managed his independent record label, Silver Dollar Music. They kept working with artists and songs Morris had discovered. For example, Dani Fouts recorded Morris's song "NASCAR Fan," which reached number 26 on iTunes.

Another song by Morris, "Country Born, American Made," was released in 2014. It was about Mark Muller, who appeared on the show God, Guns & Automobiles on the History Channel. Country artist Jimmy Miles recorded this song.

Death

Colonel Robert Morris passed away on October 21, 2013, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Southaven, Mississippi. He had suffered long-term health issues after a heart attack in 2008. He is remembered by his wife Irene, his nephew Clifford, and his two sisters.