Harold Morrison

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Harold Morrison (January 30, 1931 - December 21, 1993) was an American country music Nashville guitar player. He played with Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, The Wilburn Brothers, Tammy Wynette and other musicians. In videos, he can be seen playing the dobro on "Harper Valley PTA" with Jeannie C. Riley^[1] or performing alongside Loretta Lynn.^[2] Morrison's accompanied performers who earned gold records: he specialized in banjo and dobro playing. He was also a writer and performer of comedic songs, and helped to compose albums for many famous artists. While he has not yet been nominated for the Country Music Hall of Fame, many photos of both him and the instruments he played can be found there as his talents helped many others to receive this honor.^[3] He was often a guest on many TV shows that showcased country music artists, and he could usually be spotted by his signature colorful plaid sportscoat.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Harold Ralph Morrison was born on January 30, 1931, in High Lonesome, Missouri, a small town in rural Christian County, about 40 miles southeast of Springfield. His father, Floyd Morrison, was a farm laborer and his mother, Drady Naomi Nelson, tended to the home. Harold was the firstborn child of the family, and he grew up in a typical farm community. Harold was both a banjo and guitar player and seemed to be able to pick up any stringed instrument and quickly learn to play it. He was a shy young man, but extremely talented. He began entertaining at an early age, and by the time he reached his late teens, he became determined to perform in country music and set off from home.^{[citation needed]}

Career[]

He landed his first performances on the local radio stations in Springfield, Missouri in 1950, and by 1951 he began performing as a duo with fiddler/guitarist Jimmy Gateley. They started off working together with the Red River Rustlers on KJSB radio in Jamestown, North Dakota, and later the pair moved to Wheeling, West Virginia where they partnered with WWVA (AM) radio. Harold and Jimmy played mostly as a duo but occasionally performed with Dusty Owens' music group. In 1954 they recorded sessions with Owens' band for Columbia Records. They then went on to Springfield, Missouri, where in 1955 they became a part of Ozark Jubilee, and went on tour with Red Foley. They were also regulars on the Ozark Jubilee TV show from 1955 to 1960.^[4] Morrison had also begun to perform as a session musician for several studios. He played steel guitar in the studio with The Browns when they recorded "I Take the Chance", and with Porter Wagoner, where he played the banjo on a few of Porter's songs, including "I'm Stepping Out Tonight' and "A Good Time Was Had By All".

Around^[when?] 1950, he married Eva Lou Ash. Harold and Eva would go on to have 3 daughters (Karla, Gina, and Georgia), one of whom would grow up to be a country music performer.^[5] By 1957, he had relocated along with his family to Nashville, Tennessee where he performed on steel guitar and dobro with Kitty Wells on several Decca Records recordings, including her version of "I Can't Stop Loving You". He also recorded some singles with Johnnie Wright for RCA Victor. When Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright went out on tour, Morrison went along and remained on tour for several years. In 1959 as he made some recordings for Reader's Digest. In the early 1960s, he became a member of The Wilburn Brothers both on tour and was also their co-star on their TV series, "The Wilburn Brothers Show".^[6] In the mid-1960s, he made several recordings of instrumental work and comedy routines for Decca Records which was released as "Hoss, He's the Boss".^[7] In 1965, he played the banjo on Loretta Lynn's big hit "Blue Kentucky Girl". In 1967 under Epic records, he along with Maple Hill Boys released the single "Opry Theme", the first time the Grand Ole Opry allowed its theme to be recorded.^[8] In 1969, he became a member of George Jones and Tammy Wynette's band and remained with them until they divorced in 1975. After 1975, he continued touring with Wynette's band, but without George.^[9][10][11] In the early 1970s, he was occasionally a guest on Porter Wagoner's TV show.^[12]

In 1975, along with his daughter Karla (aka Kitty) and Benny Williams, they formed the Smoking Cigarettes bluegrass music group. The group went on tour for several years on the bluegrass circuit, made appearances at many of the larger bluegrass festivals, and they even won several of the competitions. Once the band broke up, Morrison continued playing with several different groups until 1985, when he had his own band again in Branson, Missouri. In 1989, he played with Ferlin Husky, and was at their theater in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina around the time when Hurricane Hugo destroyed the building. He then went to work for a few years with Grandpa Jones, and in 1992 at Myrtle Beach, he yet again formed a new band under his own name.^{[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][excessive citations]}

Death[]

He died of heart failure on December 21, 1993, in Springfield, Missouri after suffering a recent cerebral hemorrhage. He was 62 years old.^[20]

Discography[]

^[21]

References[]

External links[]

• Harold Morrison at IMDb