Tuesday, 6 May 2025

Oliver Morgan born 6 May 1933


Oliver Morgan (May 6, 1933 – July 31, 2007) was an American R&B singer. A Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee, he is best known for his 1964 hit, "Who Shot the La La". 

Morgan was born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, a neighborhood that was also home to Fats Domino, Jesse Hill and Smiley Lewis. Morgan first began singing in his local church. Upon signing to Harold Battiste's AFO label in 1961, he cut his earliest singles like "I'll Make a Bet" and "I Got a Feelin'" under the alias Nookie Boy, a childhood nickname bestowed by his aunt. 

                                   

When fellow Ninth Ward product and R&B eccentric Prince La La suffered a fatal but mysterious drug overdose in 1963, Morgan signed to GRP-Crescendo to cut "Who Shot the La La." The recording session took place at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans with Eddie Bo at the piano. A lively, whimsical tribute to his late friend, the record proved a surprise crossover hit and Morgan soon went on tour in support of Jackie Wilson, Wilson Pickett, and Don Covay. 

Follow-ups including "La La Man" and "Liver Quiver" fell flat, but Morgan remained a New Orleans institution, his colorful live act renowned for its signature second-line umbrella, previously a staple of jazz funerals. In addition to club appearances, he worked for years as a custodian at New Orleans' City Hall building, followed by a stint as caretaker of the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum on Chatres Street. 

In 1997, Morgan recorded his first-ever album, the Allen Toussaint-produced I'm Home. Toussaint gave him full support providing 5 of the 10 songs and producing and playing on the album. Days after completing the sessions he suffered a stroke, and the following January, Toussaint headlined a benefit concert in his honor alongside fellow Crescent City immortals Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe, and Frankie Ford. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Morgan and wife Sylvia were forced to relocate to Atlanta after the breached levees destroyed their Lower Ninth Ward home. He died from a heart attack on July 31, 2007, at the age of 74.  He had not performed since he evacuated out of New Orleans. 

(Edited from Wikipedia & AllMusic)

2 comments:

boppinbob said...

For two albums currently on the streamers plus a few bonus singles go here;

https://pixeldrain.com/u/VybipAeN

Oliver Morgan – 9th Ward Blues Party (2016 Mardi Gras)

01) Oliver Morgan - You Make My Livers Quiver.mp3"
02) Oliver Morgan - Iko Iko.mp3"
03) Oliver Morgan - Fat Tuesday.mp3"
04) Oliver Morgan - Lil Liza Jane.mp3"
05) Oliver Morgan - Who Shot the Lala.mp3"
06) Oliver Morgan - Fat Tuesday (Instrumental).mp3"
07) Oliver Morgan - Down by the Riverside.mp3"
08) Oliver Morgan - Mardi Gras Mambo.mp3"
09) Oliver Morgan - New Second Line.mp3"

Can’t find any information regarding the above album.

Oliver Morgan – I'm Home (1998 NYNO)

1. It's All About You 3:07
2. I Gotcha 2:44
3. Honey, I'm Home 3:22
4. We All Like Our Own Kind 3:06
5. That's What My Heart Needs 3:40
6. Be Good To You 3:20
7. Ya Ya 3:05
8. I Love Rhythm and Blues 3:11
9. I'm Busy 3:14
10. In The Pocket 4:03

Baritone Saxophone – Cindy Mayes
Bass – Charles Moore
Drums – Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson
Electric Guitar – Scott Goudeau
Guitar – Sean Tauzier (tracks: 6)
Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Producer – Allen Toussaint
Synthesizer – Sean Tauzier (tracks: 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Brian "Breeze" Cayolle
Trombone – Craig Klein
Trumpet – Tracy Griffin

This was Oliver Morgan's last recording, he became ill before it was released. He is on all the vocals.

Here’s a little bonus of 45’s

01) Nookie Boy - I've Got A Feeling.mp3"(1961)
02) Oliver Morgan - Who Shot The Lala mp3" (1964)
03) Oliver Morgan Hold Your Dog.mp3" (1964)
04) Oliver Morgan - Roll call.mp3" (1966)
05) Oliver Morgan - Sure Is Nice.mp3" (1966)
06) Oliver Morgan - The La La Man.mp3" (1967)
07) Oliver Morgan - What's Good To You Part1.mp3" (1967)
08) Oliver Morgan - Once Upon a Time.mp3" (1969)

Aussie said...

I DONT THIS ONE BUT I LIKE IT THANK YOU