Chad Morgan

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For the actress, see Chad Morgan (actress).

Chad Morgan
OAM
Morgan in June 2011
Morgan in June 2011
Background information
Birth nameChadwick William Morgan
Also known asThe Sheik of Scrubby Creek
Born (1933-02-11) 11 February 1933 (age 88)
Wondai, Queensland, Australia
GenresCountry and western
Occupation(s)Comedic singer and guitarist
InstrumentsVocals, Guitar
Years active1952–present
LabelsEMI
Associated actsSlim Dusty, The Muirs, Eddie Tapp, Gordon Larkin
Websitewww.chadmorgan.com.au

Chadwick William "Chad" Morgan OAM (born 11th February 1933) is an Australian country music singer and guitarist known for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, his prominent teeth and goofy stage persona. In reference to his first recording, he is known as "The Sheik of Scrubby Creek".

Biography[]

Morgan was born in Wondai, Queensland, the eldest of 14 children to Dave and Ivy Morgan.[1] From an early age he was raised by his grandparents, Bill and Eva Hopkins. After his grandfather died in 1945, he and his grandmother moved back to Scrubby Creek to live with his parents and siblings. Morgan left school at age 12 and found work cutting timber.[1]

Morgan was discovered through Australia's Amateur Hour, a radio talent contest, where he sang his original song "The Sheik of Scrubby Creek" and was a finalist.[1][2] He began recording with Regal Zonophone Records (a subsidiary of EMI) in 1952, while completing his national service obligation in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[2]

Morgan's songs are peppered with Australian slang; one CD compilation is called Sheilas, Drongos, Dills and Geezers.

Morgan's first wife was Pam Mitchell, with whom he had three children - Allan, Chad Jr. and Janelle.

Morgan married again on 14 September 1985 to Joanie, whom he had met the year before. After their marriage Morgan gave up drinking and smoking completely.

Morgan has toured extensively, including with the Slim Dusty Show, the All Star Western Show and his own Chad Morgan Show. He has been prolific in his recorded output and live performances. In 1987 Morgan was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown,[3] and was awarded an OAM in 2004.

Morgan has appeared in three films, Newsfront (1978), Dimboola (1979), and the biographical documentary I'm Not Dead Yet (2011).

Morgan contributed one verse to the Gordon Parsons song "Pub With No Beer". He was dubbed the "clown prince of comedy" by Slim Dusty.[4] He recorded a duet with John Williamson, "A Country Balladeer". He has had platinum and gold album sales and is one of Australia's most popular country music artists.

Morgan performed at Sydney Opera House with Slim Dusty in April 1978. An album of the concert was released three years later, as On & Off The Road. It was released the same year as Sheilas Drongos Dills & Other Geezers which contained 20 of Morgan's hits from the 1950s and 1960s.

In 2009, Morgan wrote a song about his Aboriginal heritage, dedicated to his grandparents who raised him as a child, titled "The Ballad of Bill and Eva".[5] It was recorded with his granddaughter, Caitlin Morgan.[6]

Artists who have impersonated Morgan in their shows include Col Elliott and John Williamson.

Barry Humphries used Morgan as his inspiration for Les Patterson's teeth. [7]

Tex Morton once described Morgan as the only original country music artist in Australia.[8]

In 2008, false rumours of his death began to surface after an announcement on radio station 4GY. The radio station later apologised for the rumour.[9]

Award honours[]

Australian Roll of Renown[]

The Australian Roll of Renown honours Australian and New Zealander musicians who have shaped the music industry by making a significant and lasting contribution to Country Music. It was inaugurated in 1976 and the inductee is announced at the Country Music Awards of Australia in Tamworth in January.[10]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 Chad Morgan Australian Roll of Renown inductee

Country Music Awards of Australia[]

Morgan was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2010 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, the first person to be honoured with this award[11]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Chad Morgan Lifetime Achievement Award awarded

A bronze bust of Morgan was unveiled in Tamworth's Bicentennial Park in 2017.[12]

Queensland Music Awards[]

The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[13]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2018[14] himself Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award awarded

Discography[]

Albums[]

  • The Sheik
  • Chad Morgan - The Singles Collection
  • It's Only the Depth that Varies
  • Cop This Lot
  • Muckin Round in Muckadilla
  • The Worst of
  • In Person
  • The Sheik of Scrubby Creek
  • Sheilas Drongos Dills & Other Geezers
  • There's Life in the Old dog yet
  • Double Decker Blowflies
  • More Worst of Chad Morgan
  • Songs My Old Mates Sang
  • Chad Charms the Birds
  • At his Sunday Best
  • Morgan Magic
  • Chad Morgan live!
  • In Person
  • Sings John Ashe
  • The Chad Morgan Song Book
  • The Artistry of Chad Morgan
  • You Can't keep a good man down
  • Been there done that gonna do it again
  • One for one
  • Chad charms the birds
  • Don't drink the water in the outback
  • On & off the road
  • The Best of Chad Morgan
  • Here I am
  • Booze Ballads and Broads
  • Cock of the walk
  • They Call Me the Sheik
  • One of the Mob
  • The Singles collection-Regal Zonophone and beyond
  • More Worst Of
  • Recycled
  • The Dues are Paid
  • Deadly
  • Family and Friends
  • Quarrantined

Documentary film[]

A documentary film, I'm Not Dead Yet, was made about Morgan's life. It was written and directed by the filmmaker Janine Hoskings. The DVD was released by Umbrella Entertainment on 6 June 2012.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Quinn, Ben (2 October 2004). "Just glad to be Chad". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b Veitch, Jock (29 March 1964). ""The sheik" comes to town". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Roll of Renown". TCMF. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Chad and the other hillbillies". The Northern Rivers Echo. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Not dead yet". The Canberra Times. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  6. ^ "The Dues Are Paid". Chad Morgan (Official website). Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  7. ^ Dave's Diary, (21 July 2011), Chad Morgan Documentary Chad Morgan - Not Dead Yet, Nucountry website
  8. ^ "Chad Morgan show - Offbeat Operations Entertainment Agency - Entertainment Agency Coffs Harbour North Coast NSW". offbeatoperations.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Chad Morgan: No, I'm not dead!", The Daily, 21 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Roll of Renown". Tamworth Country Music Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  11. ^ Belt, Rebecca (24 January 2010). "A golden night out for guitar hero". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2014. The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award went to Chad Morgan, known fondly as The Sheik of Scrubby Creek, and renowned for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs.
  12. ^ Bullock, Laurie. "Chad Morgan bronze bust now stands in Tamworth Bicentennial Park". Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  13. ^ "About the Queensland Music Awards". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Past Winners 2018". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 25 March 2021.

External links[]

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