Frank Morgan (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Morgan
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Morgan in Half Moon Bay, California, 1986
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 23, 1933 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 2007 (aged 73) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | Bebop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone |
| Years active | 1949–2007 |
| Labels | Contemporary, Telarc, Antilles, HighNote |
Frank Morgan (December 23, 1933 – December 14, 2007) was a famous jazz musician. He played the saxophone, mostly the alto saxophone. Frank Morgan was known for his amazing bebop style and for playing beautiful slow songs called ballads. Many people saw him as a follower of the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. His music career lasted for over 50 years!
Contents
Frank Morgan: A Jazz Legend
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Frank Morgan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1933. He spent most of his childhood with his grandmother in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was because his parents, Stanley and Geraldine, were often traveling for their music careers. His father, Stanley, was a guitarist for famous groups like The Ink Spots.
Frank first tried playing his father's instrument, the guitar. But everything changed when he saw jazz great Charlie Parker play the saxophone. Frank was only seven years old at the time. His father introduced them backstage, and Parker gave Frank advice. Parker suggested Frank start with the clarinet to help him learn how to control his breath and lips, which is called an embouchure. Frank practiced the clarinet for about two years. After that, he got a soprano saxophone, and then finally, an alto saxophone. When he was 14, Frank moved to Los Angeles, California, to live with his father.
Rising Star in Los Angeles
As a teenager in Los Angeles, Frank Morgan got to play with jazz stars like Dexter Gordon. When he was just 15, he was offered a spot in Duke Ellington's famous orchestra. However, his father thought he was too young to go on tour. Instead, Frank joined the house band at Club Alabam. There, he played with amazing singers such as Billie Holiday.
In the same year, he won a TV talent show. The prize was a recording session with the Freddy Martin Orchestra. He played "Over the Rainbow" with vocals by Merv Griffin. Frank also went to Jefferson High School. He played in the school's big band, which also had future jazz legends like Art Farmer. Frank stayed in touch with Charlie Parker during these years. He even joined jam sessions at Hollywood celebrity homes when Parker visited Los Angeles.
Frank made his first recordings in 1953. He played with Teddy Charles and his West Coasters. He also recorded with the Kenny Clarke Sextet in 1954. In 1955, his first album, Frank Morgan, was released. It was a big moment for him.
A Strong Comeback
After some time away from recording, Frank Morgan made a big comeback in April 1985. He released the album Easy Living. In 1986, he played at the famous Monterey Jazz Festival. He also got an offer to play Charlie Parker in the movie Bird, but he turned it down.
In December 1986, Frank made his New York debut at the Village Vanguard, a famous jazz club. His 1990 album Mood Indigo was very popular, reaching number four on the Billboard jazz chart. In 1998, Frank had a stroke, but he worked hard to recover. He continued to record and perform music for the last four years of his life.
His Final Years
In 2005, Frank Morgan moved to Minneapolis. He continued to perform at jazz festivals and clubs. He played with other talented musicians like Ronnie Mathews and George Cables. His last performance in Minneapolis was in July 2007.
One of Frank's final recordings was for an audiobook. He composed and played music for the crime novel The Overlook by Michael Connelly. His saxophone solos were featured at the beginning, end, and between chapters of the book. The main character in the book, Harry Bosch, is even a jazz fan who mentions Frank Morgan.
Shortly before he passed away, Frank Morgan completed his first tour of Europe.
Frank Morgan's Musical Legacy
Frank Morgan died in Minneapolis on December 14, 2007, just before his 74th birthday. He left behind an amazing musical legacy.
Music critics praised Frank Morgan's talent. The New York Times called him a "leading figure in the jazz revival of the late '80s." JazzTimes described his sound as having a "sweet, singing tone." They also noted his ability to play with "mature self-assuredness" and "youthful exuberance." The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD said he was a "passionate improviser" who organized his solos in a "songful, highly logical way."
Author Michael Connelly helped create a documentary film about Frank Morgan called Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story. It premiered in 2014 and was followed by a tribute concert. This shows how much Frank Morgan's music meant to many people.
His Music Albums
As a leader
- Frank Morgan (Gene Norman Presents, 1955)
- Easy Living (Contemporary, 1985)
- Lament (Contemporary, 1986)
- Double Image (Contemporary, 1986)
- Bebop Lives! (Contemporary, 1986)
- Major Changes (Contemporary, 1987)
- Yardbird Suite (Contemporary, 1988)
- Reflections (Contemporary, 1989)
- Mood Indigo (Antilles, 1989)
- A Lovesome Thing (Antilles, 1990)
- Quiet Fire (Contemporary, 1987 [1991]) with Bud Shank
- You Must Believe in Spring (Antilles, 1992)
- Listen to the Dawn (Antilles, 1993)
- Love, Lost & Found (Telarc, 1995)
- Bop! (Telarc, 1996)
- City Nights: Live at the Jazz Standard (HighNote, 2004)
- Raising the Standard (HighNote, 2003 [2005])
- Reflections (HighNote, 2006)
- A Night in the Life (HighNote, 2003 [2007])
- Twogether (HighNote, 2005 [2010]) with John Hicks
- Montreal Memories (HighNote, 1989 [2018]) with George Cables
As a sideman (playing with others)
With Teddy Charles
- Adventures in California (Fresh Sound Records, 1953)
With Kenny Clarke
- Telefunken Blues (Savoy, 1955)
With Art Farmer
- Central Avenue Reunion (Contemporary, 1990)
With Terry Gibbs
- The Latin Connection (Contemporary, 1986)
With Wardell Gray
- Wardell Gray Memorial, Vol. 1 (Prestige, 1983) recorded in 1953
With Milt Jackson
- Meet Milt Jackson (Savoy, 1954)
With Abbey Lincoln
- Who Used to Dance (Verve, 1996)
With Lyle Murphy
- Four Saxophones in Twelve Tones (GNP/Crescendo, 1955)
With Mark Murphy
- Night Mood (Milestone, 1986)
With Ben Sidran
- Mr. P's Shuffle (Go Jazz, 1996)
With L. Subramaniam
- Fantasy without Limits (Trend, 1979)
- Conversations (Milestone, 1984)
See also
In Spanish: Frank Morgan (músico) para niños
