A musical legend of both the silver and small screen has danced his way out of the world. Tommy Morgan, a harmonica soloist, has passed away at age 89. This news comes from Variety.
Morgan is one of those names who had a hand in a large chunk of the film and television industry, but he was also a name that was rarely spoken of. This is because of the instrument he mastered, the harmonica. Arguably, his most well known contribution was to the soundtrack of Dances With Wolves and Roots. But those were just two names in a crowd. Morgan has had consistent work dating all the way back to the 1950s. Variety estimates that more people have heard his harmonica than that of any other player of the instrument!
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Another notable example of Morgan’s work is in Sanford and Son. Morgan’s harmonica playing can be heard in the theme song by Quincy Jones. His harmonica can also be heard in the various scores and soundtracks of other shows. According to Morgan’s website, his credits include The Carol Burnett Show, The Dukes of Hazard, Family Guy, Gunsmoke, Matlock, The Simpsons, and more! His most notable television work is in Emmy-winning score for Roots, along with its sequel Roots: The New Generations.
When it came to the big screen, Morgan earned credits in more than 900 theatrical and television movies. Among the movies with his name on them are The Apple Dumpling Gang, Blazing Saddles, My Fair Lady, Ratatouille, Seven Bridges for Seven Brothers, The Shawshank Redemption, Smokey and the Bandit, Free Willy, The Godfather III, and Steel Magnolias. If you heard a harmonica in a Hollywood movie, chances are it could have been Morgan’s.
Morgan’s career, of course, had a firm root in the music industry as well. His harmonica can be heard in the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”, the Carpenters’ “Rainy Day and Mondays”, and Linda Ronstadt’s “Skylark”. He also has credits in recordings with artists such as Randy Newman, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Olivia Newton-John, Neil Diamond, James Taylor, and Dolly Parton. At the 2017 National Association of Music Merchants, Morgan gave an oral history, sharing the following.
“I always considered myself a studio musician who played harmonica. It was a very exciting way to make a living. You never knew what you were going to do.”
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Morgan was born on December 4th, 1932 in Los Angeles. He started his harmonica journey in second grade and didn’t look back since, studying with Jerry Adler, who was the brother of harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler. Morgan’s first session would be for the Andrews Sisters in September 1950, he was 17 when he took that first big step.
Morgan would continue playing through the 1950s on the U.S. Air Force band, snagging a spot on The Ed Sullivan Show. He would later on earn a master’s degree in music composition from UCLA. He is credited with three books, one of them being You Made How Much for Doing What?, an autobiography that premiered earlier this year.
Morgan would soon earn a lifetime achievement award from the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica in 2001. In 2013 he suffered a stroke which pulled his playing to a halt. He is survived by his family; his wife Lois, sons Matthew and Daniel, and granddaughter Addie Rae. May he rest in peace.
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