Jazz Musician. A trumpeter and staple of the Blue Note record label, Morgan is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential instrumentalists of the ‘Hard Bop’ Jazz era. He is remembered for his groundbreaking and highly successful album “Sidewinder” (1963). Born Edward Lee Morgan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his family gifted him a trumped during his early teenage years and he began performing prior to his graduation from Mastbaum High School. After acquiring experience with ‘Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers’, he was hired by Dizzy Gillespie with whom he achieved notice for his work on the hit “A Night in Tunisia” (1955). After Clifford Brown’s tragic death in an automobile accident in 1956, Morgan replaced him as a top figure and trumpeter as he released his debut album “Lee Morgan Indeed!” under the Blue Note label during early 1958. A second stint with Art Blakey produced the classic album “Moanin” 1958 and during the late 1950s into the early 1960s, Morgan remained busy as he recorded more that a dozen albums with the Blue Note, Savoy, Specialty and Vee-Jay and Jazzland labels. Morgan, in spite of a drug addiction for which hampered his abilities, he continued to record and perform up until the last day of his life. He was shot to death by his common-law wife after an argument at the Slug’s Night Club in New York City on February 19, 1972. Due to a heavy snowstorm at the time, first responders were slow in tending to Morgan for which delayed what could have been lifesaving measures.
Jazz Musician. A trumpeter and staple of the Blue Note record label, Morgan is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential instrumentalists of the ‘Hard Bop’ Jazz era. He is remembered for his groundbreaking and highly successful album “Sidewinder” (1963). Born Edward Lee Morgan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his family gifted him a trumped during his early teenage years and he began performing prior to his graduation from Mastbaum High School. After acquiring experience with ‘Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers’, he was hired by Dizzy Gillespie with whom he achieved notice for his work on the hit “A Night in Tunisia” (1955). After Clifford Brown’s tragic death in an automobile accident in 1956, Morgan replaced him as a top figure and trumpeter as he released his debut album “Lee Morgan Indeed!” under the Blue Note label during early 1958. A second stint with Art Blakey produced the classic album “Moanin” 1958 and during the late 1950s into the early 1960s, Morgan remained busy as he recorded more that a dozen albums with the Blue Note, Savoy, Specialty and Vee-Jay and Jazzland labels. Morgan, in spite of a drug addiction for which hampered his abilities, he continued to record and perform up until the last day of his life. He was shot to death by his common-law wife after an argument at the Slug’s Night Club in New York City on February 19, 1972. Due to a heavy snowstorm at the time, first responders were slow in tending to Morgan for which delayed what could have been lifesaving measures.
Bio by: C.S.
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