Chad Morgan
Encyclopedia
Chadwick William "Chad" Morgan (born 11 February 1933) is an Australian 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
.
, Queensland
and raised by his grandparents. He was discovered through Australia's Amateur Hour radio program and started recording with Regal Zonophone (a subsidiary of EMI
) in 1952. His songs are peppered with Australian slang (one CD compilation is called Sheilas, Drongos, Dills and Geezers).
Morgan has toured extensively, including 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. He was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in January 1987 and awarded an OAM
in 2004.
Morgan has appeared in two films, Newsfront
and Dimboola
.
When Gordon Parsons wrote the song "Pub With No Beer", Morgan wrote the words down and wrote one verse of his own. He was dubbed the "clown prince of comedy" by Slim Dusty. He has 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 has played all over Australia in all manner of places from tents to trucks to clubs and pubs, festivals, the Sydney Opera House and even a circus. Among many others he has toured with Slim Dusty, Normie Rowe and Mental As Anything.
Artists who have impersonated Morgan in their shows include Col Elliott
, John McSweeney
and John Williamson
.
Tex Morton once described Morgan as the only original country music artist in Australia.
False rumours of his death began to surface after an announcement on radio station 4GY. The radio station later apologised for the rumour.
Morgan is one of the last pioneers of Australian country music and still very active, touring Australia bringing his comical songs to fans of three generations. He is a master of audience control and remains one of the biggest draw cards in the history of Australian country music.
He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2010 CMAA Awards, the first person to be honoured with this award.
Morgan has two sons (Chad Jr and Allan) and a daughter (Janelle).
written and directed by accomplished filmmaker Janine Hoskings
Meet Chad Morgan, the dentally challenged king of Australian country music. For almost 60 years, Chad Morgan has been one of country Australia's quintessential and most beloved troubadours. A man who has come to represent the comic voice of the Australian outback, Morgan, now 78, still tours constantly, his charm and boisterous tales speaking to a vision of Australia many assume to be gone. Half biopic, half tour film, I'm Not Dead Yet is filmmaker Janine Hosking's deeply affectionate ode to one of Australia's true characters, the self-proclaimed 'Sheik of Scrubby Creek'. Narrated by Tex Perkins and filled with Morgan's classic songs and endless good humour, I'm Not Dead Yet is the definitive portrait of a larrikin who just wants to remind everyone that he is still very, very much alive write up from melbourne film festival.
Dvd is set to be released by Umbrella entertainment
on facebook
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
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
The Sheik of Scrubby Creek
The Sheik of Scrubby Creek is the debut album of country singer Chad Morgan.-Track listing:#"I'm the Sheik of Scrubby Creek" – 2:23#"You Can Have Your Women, I'll Stick to My Booze" – 2:17#"The Bachelor's Warning" – 2:27#"The Shotgun Wedding" – 2:27...
.
Biography
Morgan was born in WondaiWondai, Queensland
Wondai is a town in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located to the south of the Bunya Highway, north west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Wondai had a population of 1,402...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and raised by his grandparents. He was discovered through Australia's Amateur Hour radio program and started recording with Regal Zonophone (a subsidiary of EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) in 1952. His songs are peppered with Australian slang (one CD compilation is called Sheilas, Drongos, Dills and Geezers).
Morgan has toured extensively, including the Slim Dusty Show
Slim Dusty
David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush...
, the All Star Western Show and his own Chad Morgan Show. He has been prolific in his recorded output and live performances. He was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in January 1987 and awarded an OAM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 2004.
Morgan has appeared in two films, Newsfront
Newsfront
Newsfront is a 1978 Australian drama film starring Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, and Bryan Brown, directed by Phillip Noyce. The screenplay is written by David Elfick, Bob Ellis, Philippe Mora, and Phillip Noyce. The original music score is composed by William Motzing...
and Dimboola
Dimboola (film)
Dimboola is a 1979 Australian independent film about a country wedding reception. It is based on the 1969 play of the same name by Jack Hibberd and was principally filmed on location in Dimboola, Victoria.-Cast:* Max Gillies* Natalie Bate* Bill Garner...
.
When Gordon Parsons wrote the song "Pub With No Beer", Morgan wrote the words down and wrote one verse of his own. He was dubbed the "clown prince of comedy" by Slim Dusty. He has recorded a duet with John Williamson
John Williamson (singer)
John Robert Williamson AM is an Australian country music singer-songwriter. Williamson has released over thirty-two albums, ten videos, five DVDs, and two lyric books...
, "A Country Balladeer". He has had platinum and gold album sales and is one of Australia's most popular country music artists.
Morgan has played all over Australia in all manner of places from tents to trucks to clubs and pubs, festivals, the Sydney Opera House and even a circus. Among many others he has toured with Slim Dusty, Normie Rowe and Mental As Anything.
Artists who have impersonated Morgan in their shows include Col Elliott
Col Elliott
Col Elliott is an Australian stand-up comedian who has since been active since the early 1970s, based mainly on character based comedy. He has released more than 20 albums, 6 DVDs and many performed in thousands of live shows.-External links:*...
, John McSweeney
John McSweeney
John McSweeney is a musician and recording artist who has achieved relative popularity in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. His album sales have netted him a Double Platinum, a Double Gold, and a Gold certifications....
and John Williamson
John Williamson
John Williamson is the name of:* Jack Williamson , American science fiction writer* John H. Williamson , American, North Carolina politician and newspaper publisher* John N. Williamson , American, U.S...
.
Tex Morton once described Morgan as the only original country music artist in Australia.
False rumours of his death began to surface after an announcement on radio station 4GY. The radio station later apologised for the rumour.
Morgan is one of the last pioneers of Australian country music and still very active, touring Australia bringing his comical songs to fans of three generations. He is a master of audience control and remains one of the biggest draw cards in the history of Australian country music.
He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2010 CMAA Awards, the first person to be honoured with this award.
Morgan has two sons (Chad Jr and Allan) and a daughter (Janelle).
Discography
- The Sheik - Released
- 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 Shiek 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
Documentary\film
A documentary film has been made about Chad Morgan's life on and off the roadwritten and directed by accomplished filmmaker Janine Hoskings
Meet Chad Morgan, the dentally challenged king of Australian country music. For almost 60 years, Chad Morgan has been one of country Australia's quintessential and most beloved troubadours. A man who has come to represent the comic voice of the Australian outback, Morgan, now 78, still tours constantly, his charm and boisterous tales speaking to a vision of Australia many assume to be gone. Half biopic, half tour film, I'm Not Dead Yet is filmmaker Janine Hosking's deeply affectionate ode to one of Australia's true characters, the self-proclaimed 'Sheik of Scrubby Creek'. Narrated by Tex Perkins and filled with Morgan's classic songs and endless good humour, I'm Not Dead Yet is the definitive portrait of a larrikin who just wants to remind everyone that he is still very, very much alive write up from melbourne film festival.
Dvd is set to be released by Umbrella entertainment
External links
- Chad Morgan official website
- Morgan's induction into the Roll of Honour by the Australian Country Music Foundation
- Imdb entry for i'm not dead yet
- Official Facebook site for I'm not dead yet
- Unoffical Chad Morgan fan group
on facebook