Morley Loon facts for kids
Morley Loon (born 1948 – died 1986) was a talented Canadian musician. He was a member of the First Nations people, from a place called Mistissini, Quebec. Morley Loon played in bands like Red Cedar and Kashtin. But he was most famous for his own songs. He often sang and wrote music in the Cree language. He also worked hard to support important issues for First Nations people.
Morley Loon's Life and Music
Morley Loon was born in 1948 in the village of Mistissini. This village is in northern Quebec, in an area now called Eeyou Istchee. His parents were Cree people.
He started singing and traveling to perform in the late 1960s. He wrote many of his songs in the Cree language. In the 1970s, Morley Loon was very involved in helping the First Nations people in Canada. He worked to make sure their voices were heard.
Morley Loon was also in a movie called Cold Journey. This drama film was made by the National Film Board in 1971. He also joined protests against selling old First Nations items at an auction in Montreal. He believed these items should be respected.
His Recordings and Influence
Morley Loon recorded two music albums in 1975 with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Northern Service. He also released a studio album called North Land, My Land in 1981. Later, in 1984, he released a single song on a cassette called North Country.
Morley Loon was the first singer to have songs in the Cree language played a lot on Canadian radio. He inspired other First Nations musicians, like Lloyd Cheechoo and the band Kashtin. They were encouraged to sing in their own languages too. Lloyd Cheechoo even played guitar with Morley Loon in the late 1970s.
Morley Loon also formed a band called Red Cedar with an Inuit musician named Willie Thrasher. The band was based in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1980, Red Cedar performed at a big gathering called the Black Hills Survival Gathering. This event took place in South Dakota.
Morley Loon passed away in 1986 when he was 38 years old, after being sick for some time. His song "N'Doheeno" was later included on a special music collection in 2014. This collection was called Native North America, Vol. 1.
Discography
- Songs in Cree Composed and Sung by Morley Loon, 1975, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Northern Service
- Cree Songs, 1975, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Northern Service
- North Land, My Land/Cette terre du Nord qui est mienne, 1981, Boot Records
- North Country, 1984, independently released
