Morgana King facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Morgana King
King in 1968
Born	Maria Grazia Morgana Messina (1930-06-04)June 4, 1930 Pleasantville, New York, U.S.
Died	March 22, 2018(2018-03-22) (aged 87) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, actress
Years active	1946–1998
Spouse(s)	Tony Fruscella ​ ​ (m. 1947; div. 1956)​ Willie Dennis ​ ​ (m. 1961; his death 1965)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Vocal jazz cool jazz jazz blues bossa nova bebop traditional pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Ascot, EmArcy, Mainstream, Mercury, Muse, Paramount, Reprise, Savoy, United Artists, Verve, Wing

Morgana King, born Maria Grazia Morgana Messina on June 4, 1930, was a talented American jazz singer and actress. She started singing professionally when she was just 16 years old. In her 20s, while singing in a Greenwich Village club, people noticed her amazing voice. She had a unique way of singing and a wide vocal range, which was described as a four-octave contralto (a very low female voice).

Soon, she signed with a record label and began recording her own albums. She made many albums, continuing to record into the late 1990s. Morgana King also became known for her role as Carmela Corleone in the famous movies The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974). She appeared in a few other films as well.

She was married twice, both times to fellow jazz musicians. Morgana King passed away on March 22, 2018, in Palm Springs, California.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Morgana King was born Maria Grazia Morgana Messina in Pleasantville, New York. Her parents came from Sicily, Italy. She grew up in New York City with her five brothers and sisters. Her father, who owned a business, loved music and played the piano and guitar by ear.

When she was about 13, her singing talent was discovered. Someone heard her singing a song from an operetta called Bitter Sweet. By age 16, she loved big bands (large jazz groups). She soon received a scholarship to the Metropolitan School of Music to study singing.

Singing Career Takes Off

Morgana King began her professional singing career at 16. In 1953, when she was singing in a Greenwich Village nightclub, a record company executive was very impressed. He loved her unique singing style and wide vocal range. Just three years later, in 1956, she released her first album, called For You, For Me, For Evermore.

Grammy Nomination

In 1964, Morgana King was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. This was a huge honor! The award that year went to the Beatles, but her nomination showed how talented she was.

Performing Around the World

Morgana King performed in many clubs, concert halls, and hotels. She toured all over the United States, Europe, Australia, and South America. Some famous places she sang include the Blue Note, the Rainbow Grill, and Town Hall in New York City.

She also performed at special events, like the Easter Jazz Festival in 1956 and a Tribute to Billie Holiday at the Hollywood Bowl in 1979. She even gave an interview on television in Lisbon, Portugal, while on tour.

Working with Other Musicians

Throughout her career, Morgana King worked with many talented musicians. Some of these included Ben Aronov, Eddie Daniels, Jay Leonhart, and Torrie Zito. These collaborations helped create her unique sound.

Recording Many Songs

Morgana King recorded over 200 songs on more than 30 albums! Her signature song is "A Taste Of Honey", which she released in 1964. Two of her most popular songs that have been re-released many times are "My Funny Valentine" and the title track from her first album, "For You, For Me, For Evermore".

Acting Career and "The Godfather"

Morgana King always wanted to be a dramatic actress. She got her big break in 1972 when she appeared in the movie The Godfather. She played Carmela Corleone, the wife of the main character, Don Vito Corleone. In the film, she even sang a song called "Luna mezzo mare".

She also appeared as herself in a TV documentary about the movie. She played Carmela Corleone again in The Godfather Part II in 1974. Her last film role was in A Brooklyn State of Mind in 1997.

Television Appearances

Starting in 1964, Morgana King appeared on many television shows. She was on The Andy Williams Show and The Hollywood Palace. For over ten years, she was a guest on popular talk and variety shows like The Mike Douglas Show and The Dean Martin Show.

Personal Life and Relationships

Morgana King was married twice. Her first marriage was at age 17 to jazz trumpeter Tony Fruscella. They had a daughter named Graysan.

Her second marriage was in 1961 to jazz trombonist Willie Dennis. She met him at the famous Birdland Jazz Club. Willie Dennis had played with many well-known jazz musicians like Gerry Mulligan and Benny Goodman.

Morgana traveled to Brazil with Willie Dennis in 1960, which she said helped her discover more about herself. Sadly, Willie Dennis died in a car accident in 1965. Morgana dedicated her 1965 album, It's a Quiet Thing, to him.

After his death, she moved to Malibu, California. Frank Sinatra offered her a chance to record three albums on his record label, Reprise Records.

Later Years and Legacy

Morgana King announced her retirement from performing live in 1993, but she continued to record music. Her last film role was in 1997.

She passed away on March 22, 2018, at the age of 87, in Palm Springs, California, due to an illness.

Morgana King's Unique Style

Morgana King's voice was known for its impressive four-octave contralto range. Some people believe her unique singing style was partly influenced by the singing of a cantor (a religious singer) she heard as a child near a synagogue. She always explored new music styles while staying true to her jazz roots.

Her contributions to music are remembered in books about jazz standards. She is credited with composing some songs herself, like "Moe's Blues" and "Simply Eloquent." In 1991, she even created seminars called Morgana King Fine Arts Series to help people learn about performing.

Filmography

Videography

See also

• Morgana King discography
• List of songs recorded by Morgana King

In Spanish: Morgana King para niños