Al "Flying Fingers" Morgan (November 14, 1915 – November 18, 1989) was a popular nightclub singer, pianist and composer who is known for his hit recordings "Jealous Heart", "I'll Take Care Of Your Cares," and "The Place Where I Worship."
Albert Louis Morgan was born in Cincinnati and raised in
nearby Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Morgan's musical foundation started at the Ninth
Street Baptist Church in his hometown. Morgan's mother’s plan was for him to be
a preacher. His church sent him to Dennison University on a scholarship, but
Morgan soon discovered that he was "put on this earth to play and sing,
not to preach." As the back cover of his religious album, The Place Where
I Worship states: "…until he was twenty-one, practically all of his musical
experience was in the sacred field of music.
He then studied violin and voice at the Cincinnati
Conservatory and received his master's degree from Eastman School of Music in
Rochester, New York. His piano playing was self-taught. Some of his first shows
were as a piano sideman in the big band years playing with Glen Miller and
Harry James among others. After the Pearl Harbour attack, he served as a rear
gunner on B-17s in the US Army Air Force during WWII. He spent considerable
time in Europe putting on shows at American installations and base hospitals.
After his discharge he returned to Cincinnati. He
conducted the staff band at WKRC and had several weekly radio shows. Morgan got
his start in show business by playing on the boats that travel up and down the
Ohio River near his home-town of Cincinnati. Morgan also bought his own night
spot in Cincinnati, the Club Carasal. While working at the Club Carasal, Morgan
decided that he would join the entertainment. He became so popular that he
decided that he should go on the road.
In November 1946, he gave up his radio job, sold the Club
Carasal, and headed for New York. He did a long stretch at Rogers Corner Theatre
Lounge, a spot across the street from Madison Square Garden. Then he traveled
to Chicago. He was booked in Chicago at Helsing's Vodvil Lounge at Sheridan and
Montrose on the city’s north side. The manager booked him, sight-unseen,
thinking he was a comedian. He didn’t laugh, however, when Morgan sat down at
the piano and started playing. That led to The Al Morgan Show, Morgan's half-hour television show, backed by the Billy Chandler Trio, broadcasting from Helsing's. The show was on the DuMonte Television Network, from 1949 to 1951; one of the first shows to be syndicated. In 1952, Morgan was back in Cincinnati, broadcasting his show from WLW Television.
the piano and started playing. That led to The Al Morgan Show, Morgan's half-hour television show, backed by the Billy Chandler Trio, broadcasting from Helsing's. The show was on the DuMonte Television Network, from 1949 to 1951; one of the first shows to be syndicated. In 1952, Morgan was back in Cincinnati, broadcasting his show from WLW Television.
While playing in Wisconsin Morgan had the idea to make a
big band arrangement of the Jenny Lou Carson song, "Jealous Heart".
Rumour has it that Morgan first sang "Jealous Heart" as a part of a
medley in his act. That song, recorded in Chicago and released on Universal in
1949, became a local hit. Decca Records in England was starting a new label
called London Records and deal was struck to release "Jealous Heart"
on London.
"Jealous Heart" (a cover of the Jenny Lou Carson
country song) was released in 1949 and was his biggest hit, said to have sold
in excess of 12 million copies. Morgan performed at various theatres, churches,
supper clubs and Las Vegas concert halls for over 40 years, and continued to
perform until his death in 1989.
He was one of the first musicians to have his own syndicated television show. He is best known for his flamboyant style of piano playing where he would raise his hands over his shoulders and flop them down on the keys, hitting all the correct notes, earning him the title, "Flying Fingers.
He was one of the first musicians to have his own syndicated television show. He is best known for his flamboyant style of piano playing where he would raise his hands over his shoulders and flop them down on the keys, hitting all the correct notes, earning him the title, "Flying Fingers.
Morgan continued to record for the length of his career.
Morgan recorded over 50 songs for London Records and recorded for most of the
major labels including Columbia, Mercury, Decca and RCA subsidiary "X".
Morgan's recordings for London were pressed internationally including England,
Canada, Germany, Australia and South Africa. Later in his career Morgan
recorded for smaller independent labels such as Crystal, and Jewel. In 1961 he
had a nightly live radio show performing from 11:30 PM to 12, on WTAQ,
broadcasting from LaGrange, Illinois.
In 1989, Morgan performed at the Olympic Theater in
Cicero, Illinois for his video, In Concert at the Olympic Theatre on Memorial
Day, May 28, 1989. The show ended with 3 songs all containing the word
"jealous" and ending with "Jealous Heart." This could have
been the medley that started his career, and the last recording that Morgan
made. Morgan was performing at Noodles Restaurant when he died on Saturday,
November 18, 1989 in Loyola’s McGaw Hospital in Maywood, Illinois.
(Edited from Wikipedia)
Al continued to find an audience throughout his lengthy career, as this performance of Daddy's Little Girl, at age 76, proves. Al achieved immediate fame with his massive hit Jealous Heart in 1949. He went on to record an impressive number of singles and albums for various labels, and had his own television show. Although usually associated with The Mills Brothers, Al's audiences expected to hear this favourite at his concerts. Al recorded Daddy's Little Girl for RCA's label X.
(Edited from Wikipedia)
Al continued to find an audience throughout his lengthy career, as this performance of Daddy's Little Girl, at age 76, proves. Al achieved immediate fame with his massive hit Jealous Heart in 1949. He went on to record an impressive number of singles and albums for various labels, and had his own television show. Although usually associated with The Mills Brothers, Al's audiences expected to hear this favourite at his concerts. Al recorded Daddy's Little Girl for RCA's label X.
4 comments:
For “Al Morgan - The Dynamo Of Piano And Song
- Jealous Heart & Other Original Favourites” go here;
https://pixeldrain.com/u/JqTaAfeo
1. IN MY LITTLE RED BOOK
2. MY SIN
3. IF I HAD MY WAY
4. LITTLE RED CABOOSE
5. TURN-ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY
6. YOU TELL ME YOUR DREAM, I'LL TELL YOU MINE
7. THAT OLD GANG OF MINE
8. I WONDER WHO'S KISSING HER NOW?
9. GEE, BUT IT'S GREAT TO MEET A FRIEND
10. SMILE, DARN YA SMILE
11. GET OUT THOSE OLD RECORDS
12. IF I DIDN'T ALREADY LOVE YOU, BABY
13. JEALOUS HEART
14. FOOLISH TEARS
15. MY HEART CRIES FOR YOU
16. WHAT WILL I TELL MY HEART?
17. I'VE GOT A SUNDAY FEELING IN MY HEART
18. THE PLACE WHERE I WORSHIP (IS THE WIDE OPEN SPACES)
19. I'D TRADE ALL MY TOMORROWS (FOR JUST ONE YESTERDAY)
20. THERE'S NO SEASON ON LOVE
21. HALF A HEART IS ALL YOU LEFT ME
22. A LITTLE STREET WHERE OLD FRIENDS MEET
23. I WISH I HAD A SWEETHEART (LIKE THAT OLD SWEETHEART OF MINE)
24. HOPESTAR
Over fifty years ago there was a song popularised by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians entitled "Get Out Those Old Records". It was co-written by Guy's brother Carmen, together with John Jacob Loeb, and could well have been a family commercial, so successful were the Lombardos . However, there were other versions of the song, not least by the man on this disc, Al Morgan - not to be mistaken with the eponymous Jazz bass and tuba player from New Orleans. (Jasmine notes)
Boppin' Bob, this Al Morgan music looks very interesting. He's someone I haven't heard of. The problem, though, is that I can't download the file from pixeldrain. All I get after I click on "Download" is "Waiting for pixeldrain.com". I've tried several times even though I've waited for many minutes each time.
With another file, I had difficulty several days ago but eventually got it. With the Al Morgan file, I just can't seem to get anywhere.
Do you have any suggestions?
Paul (in Canada)
Hello Paul, Link works OK here. Possibly router problems their end as they are a comparatively new service.so bound to have some teething problems.
Just for you here's another link....
https://www.mediafire.com/file/9h4wbximkd5cf41/Al_Morgan.rar/file
Regards, Bob
I have never been able to download from Pixiedrain. Thank you for the Mediafire link.
Eric
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