Saturday 28 June 2014

George Morgan born 28 June 1924


George Thomas Morgan (June 28, 1924 – July 7, 1975) was a mid-20th century country music singer.

The Candy Kid — as George Morgan was known after his first hit "Candy Kisses" spent three weeks at the top of the country chart — was a grand country crooner in the tradition of Eddy Arnold, whom he replaced on the Grand Old Opry in 1948. 


Born in Waverly, TN, on June 28, 1924, Morgan and his family moved to Ohio not long after. He grew up listening to the Opry and formed his first band in the mid-'40s. Occasional spots on local radio did little for Morgan's career, but after he wrote "Candy Kisses," WWVA-Wheeling (WV) hired him for the Wheelin Jamboree. The Grand Old Opry called soon after, and Columbia Records contracted Morgan in 1948.

"Candy Kisses" was finally released early the following year and it hit number one in April; though it proved George Morgan's only chart-topper, he placed six of his next seven singles in the Country Top Ten. "Please Don't Let Me Love You," the B-side of "Candy Kisses," reached the Top Five soon after, and another double-sided hit, "Rainbow in My Heart"/"All I Need Is Some More Lovin'" continued the success. 




Three Top Ten singles (plus the near-miss "All I Need") in the span of a month was simply astonishing for a debut artist, and Morgan proved he was no fluke by closing out 1949 with three more Top Five hits: "Room Full of Roses," "Cry-Baby Heart," and "I Love Everything About You."

It was almost inevitable that Morgan's chart success would taper somewhat, though the three-year gap between hits from late 1949 to 1952 was surprising. "Almost" reached number two in April 1952, however, and Morgan's performances on the Grand Old Opry sustained his reputation. He left the show in 1956 to host a TV program in Nashville, but returned to the Opry three years later. He christened his return in 1959 with "I'm in Love Again," which hit number three. Early the following year, "You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me)" hit number four, but it was Morgan's last Top 20 entry.

From 1965 to 1975, George Morgan remained with the Opry and recorded frequently, hitting the nether reaches of the Country charts consistently. In 1974 George Morgan was the last person to sing on the stage of the Ryman auditorium before the Grand Ole Opry moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House, A week later he was the first to sing on stage at the new Grand Ole Opry.

In 1973 Morgan watched proudly when youngest daughter Lorrie Morgan made her Opry debut. Sadly, George Morgan died not long after his fifty-first birthday, from complications following open-heart surgery.He was interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison, Tennessee.

His posthumous father-daughter duet, "I'm Completely Satisfied with You," hit the charts in 1979. (info mainly AMG)


2 comments:

boppinbob said...

For George Morgan - The Chronological Classics 1949-1950 go here:

http://dfiles.ru/files/h42oos9jl

password: nich

01. All I Need Is Some More Lovin'
02. Candy Kisses
03. Rainbow In My Heart
04. Please Don't Let Me Love You
05. Silver River
06. Don't Make Me Sorry
07. Put All Your Love In A Cookie Jar
08. Room Full Of Roses
09. I Love Everything About You
10. Ring On Your Finger
11. Cry Baby Heart
12. Why In Heaven's Name
13. The Shoe Is On The Other Foot Now
14. Wedding Dolls (From Your Wedding Cake)
15. Greedy Fingers
16. Angel Mother
17. Lucky Seven
18. You Win The Bride
19. So Far
20. Warm Hands, Cold Heart
21. Don't Be Afraid To Love Me
22. I Know You'll Never Change
23. Pardon Me For Being A Fool
24. D-A-R-L-I-N-G (02:42)

zephyr said...

Thanks Bob I always liked George singing.It is good to see you back from holiday