‘Some people are saying it is country music, I would call it a soulful sort of rock’
Lee Morgan is looking forward to showcasing his original brand of music tonight.
LEE Morgan is a familiar face at pubs around Warrnambool, revving up crowds with covers of rock ’n’ roll favorites. But tonight will be a rare chance to see Morgan in full flight, playing his own original songs with a backing band. Tonight’s gig will be the second in a regular fortnightly event at the Gallery nightclub to showcase Warrnambool’s young musical talent. Morgan will be joined on stage tonight by Mixbowl (fresh from recording sessions at Motherlode studios), Toe-jam and newcomers No Exit. The singer-songwriter says he has great fun playing covers solo for pub crowds, butplaying his own songs is definitely preferable. Young original talent in the Warrnambool region sometimes gets lost in a scene that is so dominated by cover bands, which is why the Thursday night Gallery gigs are so important. Cover bands will be appearing, but anyone with original material will have an opportunity to play it. “I think it’s agreat initiative”. Morgan takes every opportunity he can to play original music, including festivals, benefit concerts and pub gigs in Melbourne. The Australian Roots MusicAwards male artist of the yearsays he takes on a lot of different influences to create his musical style. “Some people are saying it is country music, I would call it a soulful sort of rock.” Morgan says his songs come out of his own experiences. “I just write as an individual, I’m not political. “I write about things that mean something to me at the time, I definitely write about reconciliation — I know what I feel in my heart.” After producing only a handful of copies of his debut CD, Laura Lee and the Stranger, Morgan says he still has enough material to fill several albums — as for many other artists, it’s a matter of finance. He says he’ll continue performing around Warrnambool and taking on as many opportunities as possible to showcase his own songs — in the south-west, Melbourne or wherever he’s invited to play.
"Roots winner to host radio show" -- Warrnambool Standard 2nd July 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved.
Australian roots music awards winner Lee Morgan will host his own show tonight on maverick Melbourne radio station Nu Country - 94.9 FM. Morgan presents an eclectic mix of Koorie music and personal favourites from his vast collection from 10 pm to midnight. The winner of the best male vocal section of the Warrnambool-based awards in January also has his award winning CD on high rotation on the station's play list. The good news for Morgan's fans is that they can hear his two-hour show live on the Internet at www.nucountry.com.au. Nu Country's teenage technician Rorie Ryan has pioneered worldwide broadcasting in cyberspace on the Northcote station. Station programmer, David Dawson, born and bred in Warrnambool, and a journalist for 34 years, recruited Morgan and other Warrnambool presenters Michael Schack and Mark Struth to host shows on Nu Country. Another regular presenter this week was former 3WAY-FM president Barbara O'Neill whose two sons are holidaying in Warrnambool.
Warrnambool Standard 13th July 2018 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2018. All rights reserved. Lee Morgan at the Loft
Lee Morgan knows plenty about playing live music in Warrnambool. Growing up in the south-west, Morgan was a constant on the local gig circuit, playing as a solo act and as a member of a collection of bands at venues such as the Criterion Hotel, The Cally Hotel, the Whalers Inn and the Lady Bay Hotel. Tonight he will be back on stage, this time joined by a band of friends for a show at The Loft. As one of the region’s most prominent indigenous performers, it is fitting Morgan should be stepping into the spotlight in what is NAIDOC Week. A grandson of the late Banjo Clarke, Morgan continues to lead the way in indigenous music. He has been a member of the Black Arm Band, telling stories of indigenous people through song alongside performers such as Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Neil Murray and Shane Howard. These collaborations have been on stage and in the recording studio. Morgan has also spread his talents into the community through his involvement in a program where he visits indigenous men and women in prison and teaches them the joys of music. He has also delivered similar programs into schools. Much of this work was done during Morgan’s 20 years living in Melbourne. He has been back in the south-west for three years and is keen to hit the stage tonight. “The band we have has been thrown together for this gig,” Morgan said. “But we have all known each other for a long time and played together so I’m confident we will put on a great show. “We’ll play my original songs with a couple of fun covers as well. My genre is guitar-driven country rock with a lot of energy. “It’s great to be playing live music in Warrnambool.”
This photo of Lee Morgan and Raff Marino was taken at the Warrnambool Hotel on 11th October 2020. Photographer: Rob Quantrelle
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