George Morgan (singer)
Encyclopedia
George Thomas Morgan was a mid-20th century American country music
singer. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and a former member of the Grand Ole Opry
.
, but was raised in Barberton, Ohio
. He was, along with a few other contemporaries (most notably Eddy Arnold
and Jim Reeves
), referred to as a "country crooner
;" his singing style being more similar to that of Bing Crosby
or Perry Como
than that of Ernest Tubb
or Lefty Frizzell
.
Morgan was a member of the Grand Ole Opry
since 1948, and is best remembered for the Columbia Records song "Candy Kisses
", which was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard
country music chart for three weeks in 1949. He also had several hits based on a "rose" theme: "Room Full of Roses
", "Red Roses For A Blue Lady
", and "Red Roses From the Blue Side of Town". In the early 1950s he hosted a 15-minute radio program syndicated nationally by RadiOzark Enterprises
in Springfield, Missouri
.
In 1974, Morgan was the last person to sing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium
before the Grand Ole Opry moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. A week later he was the first to sing on stage at the venue.
He died in 1975 of a heart attack
after undergoing open heart surgery
and was interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery
in Madison, Tennessee
.
His daughter, country music singer Lorrie Morgan
, released two songs as duets with her late father dubbed in: "I'm Completely Satisfied" (1979) and "From This Moment On" (2006).
A"Room Full of Roses" also peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard
Hot 100
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and a former member of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
.
Biography
Morgan was born to Zachariah "Zach" Morgan and Ethel Turner in Waverly, TennesseeWaverly, Tennessee
Waverly is a city in Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,028 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Humphreys County.-Geography:...
, but was raised in Barberton, Ohio
Barberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
. He was, along with a few other contemporaries (most notably Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
and Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
), referred to as a "country crooner
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
;" his singing style being more similar to that of Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
or Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
than that of Ernest Tubb
Ernest Tubb
Ernest Dale Tubb , nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" , marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music...
or Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
.
Morgan was a member of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
since 1948, and is best remembered for the Columbia Records song "Candy Kisses
Candy Kisses (George Morgan song)
"Candy Kisses" is a 1949 song written and first recorded by American country crooner George Morgan. "Candy Kisses" was George Morgan's debut release on the charts and became his only number one on the Best Selling Folk charts, where it stayed for three weeks...
", which was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country music chart for three weeks in 1949. He also had several hits based on a "rose" theme: "Room Full of Roses
Room Full of Roses
"Room Full of Roses", written by Tim Spencer, is a song first recorded in 1949 by country music singer George Morgan, and famously covered in 1974 by up-and-coming singer Mickey Gilley...
", "Red Roses For A Blue Lady
Red Roses for a Blue Lady
"Red Roses for a Blue Lady" is a 1948 popular song by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett . It has been recorded by a number of performers. The best-selling recording was made by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra Vocalists: Vaughn Monroe and The Moon Men on December 15, 1948...
", and "Red Roses From the Blue Side of Town". In the early 1950s he hosted a 15-minute radio program syndicated nationally by RadiOzark Enterprises
Ralph D. Foster
Ralph David Foster , was an American broadcasting pioneer and philanthropist who created the framework for Springfield, Missouri to challenge Nashville, Tennessee as the nation's country music capital during the 1950s...
in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
.
In 1974, Morgan was the last person to sing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
before the Grand Ole Opry moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. A week later he was the first to sing on stage at the venue.
He died in 1975 of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
after undergoing open heart surgery
Cardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
and was interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery
Spring Hill Cemetery
Spring Hill Cemetery on Gallatin Pike in the Nashville, Tennessee suburb of Madison is the final resting place for some of country music’s legendary performers including:*Roy Acuff, singer, songwriter, music publisher*Floyd Cramer, piano legend...
in Madison, Tennessee
Madison, Tennessee
Madison, Tennessee is a neighborhood in northeast Nashville, Tennessee in the United States. It is incorporated as part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
.
His daughter, country music singer Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
, released two songs as duets with her late father dubbed in: "I'm Completely Satisfied" (1979) and "From This Moment On" (2006).
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Tender Lovin' Care | 17 | Columbia |
| Slippin' Around (w/ Marion Worth Marion Worth Marion Worth was an American Country Music Singer. She was a popular performer on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. She also had several hits in the early 1960s.-Early Life & Rise to Fame:... ) |
12 | ||
| 1965 | Red Roses for a Blue Lady | 9 | |
| 1967 | Candy Kisses | 35 | Starday |
| Country Hits by Candlelight | 33 | ||
| 1968 | Steal Away | ||
| Barbara | |||
| 1969 | Sounds of Goodbye | ||
| Like a Bird | 42 | Stop | |
| 1971 | Real George | ||
| 1974 | Red Rose from the Blue Side of Town / Somewhere Around Midnight |
37 | MCA |
| 1975 | A Candy Mountain Melody | ||
| From This Moment On | 37 | 4 Star |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1949 | "Candy Kisses Candy Kisses (George Morgan song) "Candy Kisses" is a 1949 song written and first recorded by American country crooner George Morgan. "Candy Kisses" was George Morgan's debut release on the charts and became his only number one on the Best Selling Folk charts, where it stayed for three weeks... " |
1 | singles only | |
| "Please Don't Let Me Love You" | 4 | |||
| "Rainbow in My Heart" | 8 | |||
| "All I Need Is Some More Lovin'" | 11 | |||
| "Room Full of Roses Room Full of Roses "Room Full of Roses", written by Tim Spencer, is a song first recorded in 1949 by country music singer George Morgan, and famously covered in 1974 by up-and-coming singer Mickey Gilley... "A |
4 | |||
| "Cry-Baby Heart" | 5 | |||
| "I Love Everything About You" | 4 | |||
| 1950 | "Ring On Your Finger" | |||
| "Angel Mother" | ||||
| "Greedy Fingers" | ||||
| "You Win the Bride" | ||||
| "Don't Be Afraid to Love Me" | ||||
| 1951 | "Somebody Robbed My Beehive" | |||
| "I Wish I May I Wish I Might" | ||||
| "Tennessee Hillbilly Ghost" | ||||
| "Walking by the Ohio" | ||||
| "Mansion Over the Hilltop" | ||||
| 1952 | "Almost" | 2 | ||
| "Be Sure You Know" | ||||
| "Every Little Thing Rolled Into On" | ||||
| "Stranger in the Night" | ||||
| 1953 | "(I Just Had a Date) A Lover's Quarrel" | 10 | ||
| "I Passed by Your Window" | ||||
| "Lonesome Waltz" | ||||
| "Every Prayer Is a Flower" | ||||
| "No One Knows It Better Than Me" | ||||
| 1954 | "Love Love Love" | |||
| "It's Been Nice" | ||||
| "Walking Shoes" | ||||
| "Whiter Thou Goest" | ||||
| "Shot in the Dark" | ||||
| "Cheap Affair" | ||||
| 1955 | "I'd Like to Know" | |||
| "Ain't Love Grand" | ||||
| "Jesus Savior Pilot Me" | ||||
| "Lonesome Record" | ||||
| 1956 | "Take a Look at Yourself" | |||
| "Stay Away from Me Baby" | ||||
| 1957 | "There Goes My Life" | 15 | ||
| "Don't Cry for You I Love" | ||||
| "Late Date" | ||||
| "Our Summer Vacation" | ||||
| "Perfect Romance" | ||||
| 1958 | "I'm Not Afraid" | |||
| 1959 | "I'm in Love Again" | 3 | ||
| "Little Dutch Girl" | 20 | |||
| "The Last Thing I Want to Know" | 26 | |||
| 1960 | "You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me)" | 4 | ||
| "Who Knows You the Best" | ||||
| "One Empty Chair" | ||||
| 1961 | "Only One Minute More" | |||
| "Every Day of My Life" | ||||
| 1962 | "Let Me Love and Live Today" | |||
| "I Can Hear My Heart Break" | ||||
| "Blue Snowfall" | ||||
| 1963 | "Beyond My Heart" | |||
| 1964 | "One Dozen Roses (And Our Love)" | 23 | Tender Lovin' Care | |
| "All Right (I'll Sign the Papers)" | 45 | |||
| "Slippin' Around Slippin' Around "Slippin' Around" is a song written and recorded by Floyd Tillman in 1949. The most popular recording was a cover version by Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely which reached number one on the Retail Folk Best Sellers chart... " (w/ Marion Worth Marion Worth Marion Worth was an American Country Music Singer. She was a popular performer on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. She also had several hits in the early 1960s.-Early Life & Rise to Fame:... ) |
23 | Slippin' Around | ||
| "Tears and Roses" | 37 | singles only | ||
| 1965 | "Dear John" | |||
| "It's All Coming Home to You But Me" | ||||
| 1966 | "A Picture That's New" | 27 | ||
| "Saving All My Love (For You)" | ||||
| "Home Is Where the Heart Is" | ||||
| "Married" | ||||
| "Speak Well of Me (To the Kids)" | ||||
| 1967 | "I Couldn't See" | 40 | Candy Kisses | |
| "Shiny Red Automobile" | 58 | |||
| 1968 | "Barbara" | 55 | Barbara | |
| "Living" | 56 | |||
| "Sounds of Goodbye" | 31 | Sounds of Goodbye | ||
| "I'll Sail My Ship Alone" | ||||
| 1969 | "Like a Bird" | 30 | Like a Bird | |
| "We've Done All the Lovin' We Can Do" | Real George | |||
| "Enemy" | Like a Bird | |||
| 1970 | "Lilacs and Fire" | 17 | Real George | |
| "Kansas City Stockyards" | ||||
| "I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way" | ||||
| 1971 | "Rose Is Gone" | singles only | ||
| "Gentle Rains of Home" | 68 | |||
| 1973 | "Let's Live Together Marianne" | |||
| "Makin' Heartaches" | 62 | 93 | Red Rose from the Blue Side of Town / Somewhere Around Midnight |
|
| "Mr. Ting-a-Ling (Steel Guitar Man)" | 56 | 83 | ||
| 1974 | "Red Rose from the Blue Side of Town" | 21 | 19 | |
| "Somewhere Around Midnight" | 66 | |||
| "A Candy Mountain Melody" | 82 | A Candy Mountain Melody | ||
| 1975 | "In the Misty Moonlight" | 65 | From This Moment On | |
| "From This Moment On" | 62 | |||
| 1978 | "I Just Want You to Know" | single only | ||
| 1979 | "I'm Completely Satisfied with You" (w/ Lorrie Morgan Lorrie Morgan In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999.... ) |
93 | From This Moment On |
A"Room Full of Roses" also peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.