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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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MORGAN, George

(b George Thomas Morgan, 28 June '25, Waverley TN; d July '75, Madison TN of a heart attack) Smooth-voiced country crooner whose peak success was late '40s- -early '50s, but remained a major star until his death. Family moved to Ohio early '30s; he worked as a truck driver, salesman; made radio debut in teens while attending Akron U Served in US Army '44--7; worked in a bakery in Wooster, Ohio and sang on local radio WWST; went to WWVA Jamboree, Wheeling WV, then to WSM Nashville as disc jockey/singer '48--9, signed to Columbia '48; his first record, his own song 'Candy Kisses', was a no. 1 country hit '49 and was covered by Red Foley and Elton Britt. 'Room Full Of Roses' was no. 4, 'Rainbow In My Heart' and two-sided hit 'Cry-Baby Heart'/'I Love Everything About You', all '49 made an auspicious start to a career. Twenty hits in 20 years also incl. 'Almost' '52, 'I'm In Love Again' '59, 'You're The Only Good Thing' '60 in top ten. His romantic style should have been a crossover success; he never made it to the pop chart officially, but Tim Spencer's hit song 'Room Full Of Roses' was covered in the pop chart by Sammy Kaye, Eddy Howard and Dick Haymes: Pop Memories '86 (see entry for Charts) gave both Morgan and the Sons of the Pioneers (incl. Spencer) credit for a pop hit as well. Morgan joined WSM's Grand Ole Opry '49; switched to Starday label '67--8 for more hits, made it back to the country top 20 on Pete Drake's Stop label with 'Lilacs And Fire' '70, did it once more on Decca/Four Star '74 with 'Red Rose From The Blue Side Of Town', reunited with steel guitar player Little Roy Wiggins, who had played on the early hits. American Original on Columbia compiles hits from '49--63; eight-CD Candy Kisses on Bear Family incl. duets with Rosemary Clooney and Marion Worth. His daughter, Lorrie Morgan (see below), became a singer and songwriter, recorded for Hickory and MCA late '70s, signed as a writer with Acuff-Rose, albums on BMG labels from '92.