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{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|American musician (born 1948)}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2008}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2008}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Gary Morris
|
|name = Gary Morris
| image = GARY MORRIS-PERFORMANCE-5.png
| caption =
|image = <!--You can't use album covers to illustrate an artist-->
|image_size =
| birth_name = Gary Gwyn Morris
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|12|7}}
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Gary Gwyn Morris
| birth_place = [[Fort Worth, Texas]], U.S.
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|12|7}}
| origin = [[North Richland Hills, Texas]]
| genre = [[Country music|Country]], [[progressive country]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-morris-mn0000182367/biography |title=Gary Morris Biography by James Manheim |last=Manheim |first=James |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref>
|birth_place =[[Fort Worth, Texas]], [[USA]]
|origin = [[North Richland Hills, Texas]], [[USA]]
| occupation = Singer, actor
|instrument = [[Singing|Vocals]]
| years_active = 1981&ndash;present
| label = {{flatlist|
|genre = [[Countrypolitan]], [[Country music|Country]], [[Soft rock]]
*[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
|occupation = [[Singing|Singer]], [[Actor]]
*[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
|years_active = 1981&ndash;present
|label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], [[Liberty Records|Liberty]], Universal
*[[Liberty Records|Liberty]]
*Universal}}
|associated_acts = [[Juice Newton]], [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Lynn Anderson]], [[Larry Gatlin]], [[Roy Orbison]], [[Crystal Gayle]], [[Janie Frickie]], [[Louise Mandrell]], [[Emmylou Harris]]
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
*[[Juice Newton]]
*[[Lynn Anderson]]
*[[Larry Gatlin]]
*[[Crystal Gayle]]
*[[Janie Fricke]]
*[[Louise Mandrell]]}}
| website = {{URL|garymorrismusic.com}}
}}
}}
'''Gary Gwyn Morris''' (born December 7, 1948) is an American [[country music]] artist who charted a string of [[countrypolitan]]-styled hit songs throughout the 1980s.


'''Gary Gwyn Morris''' (born December 7, 1948)<ref name="LarkinCountry">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-726-6|page=277}}</ref> is an American singer and stage actor who charted a string of hits on the [[country music]] charts throughout the 1980s.
Morris is known for the 1983 ballad "[[The Wind Beneath My Wings]]", although his credits include more than twenty-five other chart singles on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' country charts, including five No. 1 hits. He has also released nine studio albums, with his 1983 album ''Why Lady Why'' having earned a [[gold album|gold]] certification from the [[RIAA]].

Morris is known for the 1983 ballad "[[The Wind Beneath My Wings]]", although his credits include more than twenty-five other chart singles on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' country charts, including five No. 1 hits. He has also released nine studio albums, mostly in the [[country pop]] vein, with his 1983 album ''Why Lady Why'' having earned a [[gold album|gold]] certification from the [[RIAA]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Morris has two siblings, a twin sister (Carey) and younger brother, Mark. Even though Morris was best known for [[pop (music)|pop]]-oriented hits in the 1980s, he was descended from a long line of traditional [[country music|country]] [[singers]], who sang hard-twang country and also [[gospel music|gospel]].
Morris was born in [[Fort Worth, Texas]].<ref name="LarkinCountry" /> He has two siblings, a twin sister, Carey, and a younger brother, Mark. Even though Morris was best known for [[pop (music)|pop]]-oriented hits in the 1980s, he was descended from a long line of traditional [[country music|country]] [[singers]], who sang hard-twang country and also [[gospel music|gospel]].


Gary's family moved from [[Fort Worth, Texas]] to [[North Richland Hills, Texas]] in the late 1950s.<ref>*North Richland Hills, Tex. : CitiCable, [1986]NRH profiles [DVD], Arlita W. Hallam interview.</ref> While in the third grade, Morris and his sister won a talent show after singing their rendition of the pop hit "[[This Old House]]," originally popularized by [[Rosemary Clooney]]. Morris, a good athlete, played four sports at [[Richland High School (Texas)|Richland High School]], which led to a scholarship with [[Cisco Junior College]] in [[Texas]]. It was during college that singing became Morris's chosen vocation, and he decided to move to [[Colorado]]. He and his two friends formed a trio, and asked a Colorado Springs bartender if they could get up on the bandstand and perform a few songs, and the audience's response (and tips) convinced Morris to put his college plans on hold and to pursue a performing career.<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p31350/biography|pure_url=yes}} Gary Morris Biography at All Music]</ref>
Gary's family moved from Fort Worth to [[North Richland Hills, Texas]] in the late 1950s.<ref>*North Richland Hills, Tex. : CitiCable, [1986]NRH profiles [DVD], Arlita W. Hallam interview.</ref> Morris, a good athlete, played four sports at [[Richland High School (Texas)|Richland High School]], which led to a scholarship with [[Cisco Junior College]] in [[Texas]]. It was during college that singing became Morris's chosen vocation, and he decided to move to [[Colorado]]. He and his two friends formed a trio, and asked a Colorado Springs bartender if they could get up on the bandstand and perform a few songs, and the audience's response (and tips) convinced Morris to put his college plans on hold and to pursue a performing career.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p31350/biography|pure_url=yes}} Gary Morris Biography], [[AllMusic]]</ref>


In the early 1970s, Morris made a living by singing in nightclubs in [[Denver, Colorado]]. He also wrote a few [[Advertising|commercial]] jingles for [[Frontier Airlines]]. In 1976, Morris signed on with [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidential campaign and sang at fundraisers during Carter's campaign. This job led to Morris' performing at the [[White House]] following Carter's election. In the audience was [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] country music producer [[Norro Wilson]], to whom Morris later gave a demo tape. Wilson liked what he heard, and soon signed Morris to his label [[Warner Bros. Records]].
In the early 1970s, Morris made a living by singing in nightclubs in [[Denver, Colorado]].<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> He also wrote a few commercial jingles for [[Frontier Airlines]]. In 1976, Morris signed on with [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidential campaign and sang at fundraisers during Carter's campaign.<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> This job led to Morris' performing at the [[White House]] following Carter's election.<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> In the audience was [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] country music producer [[Norro Wilson]], to whom Morris later gave a demo tape. Wilson liked what he heard, and soon signed Morris to his label [[Warner Bros. Records]].


==Recording career==
==Recording career==
Morris signed his recording contract with Warner Bros. in 1980. After a pair of minor hits landed just inside the top 40 of the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs|Hot Country Singles]] chart, he scored his breakthrough hit with "Headed for a Heartache"; that song reached No. 8 on the country chart in late 1981. Two follow-up singles also reached the top 15.
Morris signed his recording contract with Warner Bros. in 1980. After a pair of minor hits landed just inside the top 40 of the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs|Hot Country Singles]] chart, he scored his breakthrough hit with "Headed for a Heartache";<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> that song reached No. 8 on the country chart in late 1981. Two follow-up singles also reached the top 15.


Morris' 1983 album, ''Why Lady Why'' focused more on ballads. One of the album's four singles was "[[Wind Beneath My Wings]]," which showcased Morris' soaring tenor. Written by [[Larry Henley]] and Jeff Silbar, the song about heroes — which Morris recorded as a ballad — became one of the earliest hit versions of the song; a better-known version by [[Bette Midler]] would top the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in 1989. The ''Why Lady Why'' album also featured the ballad "The Love She Found in Me," the mid-tempoed "Velvet Chains" and the up-tempoed title track as singles; all of them peaked in the top 10 of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart. Also during this time, Morris recorded a duet with [[Lynn Anderson]] called "You're Welcome to Tonight," which became a top 10 hit.
Morris' 1983 album, ''Why Lady Why'' focused more on ballads. One of the album's four singles was "[[Wind Beneath My Wings]]",<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> which showcased Morris' soaring tenor. Written by [[Larry Henley]] and Jeff Silbar, the song about heroes — which Morris recorded as a ballad — became one of the earliest hit versions of the song;<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> a better-known version by [[Bette Midler]] would top the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in 1989. The ''Why Lady Why'' album also featured the ballad "The Love She Found in Me",<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> the mid-tempoed "Velvet Chains" and the up-tempoed title track as singles; all of them peaked in the top 10 of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart. Also during this time, Morris recorded a duet with [[Lynn Anderson]] called "You're Welcome to Tonight", which became a top 10 hit.<ref name="LarkinCountry"/>


After two more top 10 hits in 1984 — "Between Two Fires" and "Second Hand Heart" — Morris scored his first No. 1 country hit in March 1985 with "[[Baby Bye Bye]]." During what was his most prolific hitmaking part of his career, Morris had three more solo No. 1 hits during the next two years: "[[I'll Never Stop Loving You (Gary Morris song)|I'll Never Stop Loving You]]," "[[100% Chance of Rain]]" and "[[Leave Me Lonely]]." He also recorded a chart-topping duet with [[Crystal Gayle]], "[[Makin' Up For Lost Time (The Dallas Lovers Song)]]." Although he rarely saw any success outside country music, many of Morris' hit songs were in the [[Country music#Country pop|pop-country]] vein during the height of his career.
After two more top 10 hits in 1984 — "Between Two Fires" and "Second Hand Heart" — Morris scored his first No. 1 country hit in March 1985 with "[[Baby Bye Bye]]". During what was his most prolific hitmaking part of his career, Morris had three more solo No. 1 hits during the next two years: "[[I'll Never Stop Loving You (Gary Morris song)|I'll Never Stop Loving You]]", "[[100% Chance of Rain]]" and "[[Leave Me Lonely (Gary Morris song)|Leave Me Lonely]]".<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> He also recorded a chart-topping duet with [[Crystal Gayle]], "[[Makin' Up For Lost Time (The Dallas Lovers Song)]]".<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> Although he rarely saw any success outside country music, many of Morris' hit songs were in the [[Country music#Country pop|pop-country]] vein during the height of his career.


Morris had two more hits in 1987: the solo "Plain Brown Wrapper" and another duet with Gayle called "[[Another World (Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris song)|Another World]]". The latter song was used for almost a decade as the theme song for the [[Another World (TV series)|NBC soap opera]].<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> After that, Morris' success on the country charts began to fade, as tastes switched once again to neo-traditional country music. Morris later opened a music publishing office in Nashville, with one of his employees being future star [[Faith Hill]].<ref>Williams, Janet E. (1998). "Faith Hill". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: [[Oxford University Press]]. p. 240.</ref>
In 1986, Morris covered [[The Everly Brothers]]' "[[All I Have to Do Is Dream]]", a duet with rock singer [[Roy Orbison]], on his album ''Plain Brown Wrapper''.


In early 2008, Morris released two gospel albums. His most recent CD is called, ''Faith and Freedom,'' dedicated to the military troops. Gary Morris performed two songs featured on [[Juice Newton]]'s album ''Duets: Friends & Memories'', which was released in October 2010.
Morris had two more hits in 1987: the solo "Plain Brown Wrapper" and another duet with Gayle called "Another World." The latter song was used for many years as the theme for the [[Another World (TV series)|NBC soap opera]]. After that, Morris' success on the country charts began to fade, as tastes switched once again to neo-traditional country music. Morris later opened a music publishing office in Nashville, with one of his employees being future star [[Faith Hill]].<ref>Williams, Janet E. (1998). "Faith Hill". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 240.</ref>


==Acting career==
In early 2008, Morris released two Gospel CDs. His most recent CD is called, "Faith and Freedom," dedicated to the military troops. Gary Morris performed two songs featured on [[Juice Newton]]'s album ''Duets: Friends & Memories'', which was released in October 2010.
Morris took a break from touring to pursue a serious acting career. One of his first big roles was in the Broadway production of ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]],'' as [[Jean Valjean]].<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> The full symphonic recording of ''Les Misérables'' is a platinum-selling, [[Grammy Award]]-winning album and features Morris' vocals throughout in the role of Valjean,<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> including his version of the song "Bring Him Home".<ref>[http://garymorris.com/bio.html Gary Morris biography at his official website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206063613/http://garymorris.com/bio.html |date=December 6, 2006 }}</ref> Morris has also appeared in a production of Puccini's opera ''[[La Boheme]]'' with fellow country/pop singer [[Linda Ronstadt]].<ref name="LarkinCountry"/>


In the 1980s, he did a stint on ''[[The Colbys]]'' as blind country music singer Wayne Masterson,<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> signed to [[Dominique Deveraux]]'s label. On the show, he sang "Try Gettin' Over You" from his ''Anything Goes'' release.
==Acting career and life today==
Morris took a break from touring to pursue a serious acting career. One of his first big roles was in the Broadway production of ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]],'' as [[Jean Valjean]]. The full symphonic recording of ''Les Misérables'' is a platinum-selling, [[Grammy Award]]-winning album and features Morris' vocals throughout in the role of Valjean, including his version of the song "Bring Him Home."<ref>[http://garymorris.com/bio.html Gary Morris biography at his official website]</ref> Morris has also appeared in a production of Puccini's opera [[La Boheme]] with fellow country/pop singer [[Linda Ronstadt]].


In the 1990s, he spent a great deal of time working on music projects, such as the [[PBS]] special concert production, in [[Moscow, Russia]], in the [[Tretyakov Gallery]]. He returned to country music in the 1990s, performing in concerts and as a [[record producer]]. Morris hosted and also produced the [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] network's ''The North American Sportsman.'' In 1992, he appeared in an episode of ''Designing Women'' as Julia's surgeon.
In the 1980s, he did a stint on ''[[The Colbys]]'' as a blind country music singer signed to Dominique Deveraux's label.

In the 1990s, he spent a great deal of time working on music projects, such as the [[PBS]] special concert production, in [[Moscow, Russia]], in the famous [[Tretyakov Gallery]]. He returned to country music in the 1990s, performing in concerts and as a [[record producer]]. Morris hosted and also produced the [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] network's ''The North American Sportsman.''


==Discography==
==Discography==
{{Main|Gary Morris discography}}
{{Main|Gary Morris discography}}

==Awards and nominations==
=== American Music Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[American Music Awards of 1987|1987]]
|Gary Morris
|Favorite Country Male Video Artist
|{{nom}}
|}

=== Music City News Country Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[18th Music City News Country Awards|1984]]
|rowspan=3| Gary Morris
|Star of Tomorrow
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[19th Music City News Country Awards|1985]]
|rowspan=2| Male Artist of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[20th Music City News Country Awards|1986]]
|{{nom}}
|}

=== Academy of Country Music Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[18th Academy of Country Music Awards|1983]]
|Gary Morris
|[[Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year|Top New Male Vocalist]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[19th Academy of Country Music Awards|1984]]
|"[[Wind Beneath My Wings]]"
|Song of the Year
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[20th Academy of Country Music Awards|1985]]
|Gary Morris
|[[Academy of Country Music Award for Male Artist of the Year|Top Male Vocalist of the Year]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2| "[[Second Hand Heart (Gary Morris song)|Second Hand Heart]]"
|Song of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|Video of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=3| [[21st Academy of Country Music Awards|1986]]
|Gary Morris
|Top Male Vocalist of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|"[[I'll Never Stop Loving You (Gary Morris song)|I'll Never Stop Loving You]]"
|Song of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2| [[Crystal Gayle]] and Gary Morris
|rowspan=2| Top Vocal Duo of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2| [[22nd Academy of Country Music Awards|1987]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|"[[100% Chance of Rain]]"
|Video of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[23rd Academy of Country Music Awards|1988]]
|[[Crystal Gayle]] and Gary Morris
|Top Vocal Duo of the Year
|{{nom}}
|}

=== Country Music Association Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[1984 Country Music Association Awards|1984]]
|rowspan=2| Gary Morris
|rowspan=2| [[Country Music Association Award for Male Vocalist of the Year|Male Vocalist of the Year]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1985 Country Music Association Awards|1985]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|"[[Second Hand Heart (Gary Morris song)|Second Hand Heart]]"
|rowspan=2| [[Country Music Association Award for Video of the Year|Music Video of the Year]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1986 Country Music Association Awards|1986]]
|"[[100% Chance of Rain]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
|Gary Morris
|Male Vocalist of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Gary Morris and [[Crystal Gayle]]
|rowspan=2|[[Country Music Association Award for Vocal Duo of the Year|Vocal Duo of the Year]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[1987 Country Music Association Awards|1987]]
|{{nom}}
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 56: Line 178:
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/morris_gary/artist.jhtml CMT.com profile]
*[http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/morris_gary/artist.jhtml CMT.com profile]
*Millard, Bob (1998). "Gary Morris". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p.&nbsp;358.
*Millard, Bob (1998). "Gary Morris". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: [[Oxford University Press]]. p.&nbsp;358.
*[http://www.garymorris.com Official website]
*[http://www.garymorrismusic.com Official website]

{{Gary Morris}}
{{Gary Morris}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Gary}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Gary}}
[[Category:American country singers]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Fort Worth, Texas]]
[[Category:Male actors from Fort Worth, Texas]]
[[Category:People from North Richland Hills, Texas]]
[[Category:People from North Richland Hills, Texas]]
[[Category:Progressive country musicians]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Texas]]
[[Category:Cisco College alumni]]

Revision as of 03:58, 21 April 2024

Gary Morris
Background information
Birth nameGary Gwyn Morris
Born (1948-12-07) December 7, 1948 (age 75)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
OriginNorth Richland Hills, Texas
GenresCountry, progressive country[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
Years active1981–present
Labels
Websitegarymorrismusic.com

Gary Gwyn Morris (born December 7, 1948)[2] is an American singer and stage actor who charted a string of hits on the country music charts throughout the 1980s.

Morris is known for the 1983 ballad "The Wind Beneath My Wings", although his credits include more than twenty-five other chart singles on the Billboard country charts, including five No. 1 hits. He has also released nine studio albums, mostly in the country pop vein, with his 1983 album Why Lady Why having earned a gold certification from the RIAA.

Early life

Morris was born in Fort Worth, Texas.[2] He has two siblings, a twin sister, Carey, and a younger brother, Mark. Even though Morris was best known for pop-oriented hits in the 1980s, he was descended from a long line of traditional country singers, who sang hard-twang country and also gospel.

Gary's family moved from Fort Worth to North Richland Hills, Texas in the late 1950s.[3] Morris, a good athlete, played four sports at Richland High School, which led to a scholarship with Cisco Junior College in Texas. It was during college that singing became Morris's chosen vocation, and he decided to move to Colorado. He and his two friends formed a trio, and asked a Colorado Springs bartender if they could get up on the bandstand and perform a few songs, and the audience's response (and tips) convinced Morris to put his college plans on hold and to pursue a performing career.[4]

In the early 1970s, Morris made a living by singing in nightclubs in Denver, Colorado.[2] He also wrote a few commercial jingles for Frontier Airlines. In 1976, Morris signed on with Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign and sang at fundraisers during Carter's campaign.[2] This job led to Morris' performing at the White House following Carter's election.[2] In the audience was Nashville country music producer Norro Wilson, to whom Morris later gave a demo tape. Wilson liked what he heard, and soon signed Morris to his label Warner Bros. Records.

Recording career

Morris signed his recording contract with Warner Bros. in 1980. After a pair of minor hits landed just inside the top 40 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, he scored his breakthrough hit with "Headed for a Heartache";[2] that song reached No. 8 on the country chart in late 1981. Two follow-up singles also reached the top 15.

Morris' 1983 album, Why Lady Why focused more on ballads. One of the album's four singles was "Wind Beneath My Wings",[2] which showcased Morris' soaring tenor. Written by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar, the song about heroes — which Morris recorded as a ballad — became one of the earliest hit versions of the song;[2] a better-known version by Bette Midler would top the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989. The Why Lady Why album also featured the ballad "The Love She Found in Me",[2] the mid-tempoed "Velvet Chains" and the up-tempoed title track as singles; all of them peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Also during this time, Morris recorded a duet with Lynn Anderson called "You're Welcome to Tonight", which became a top 10 hit.[2]

After two more top 10 hits in 1984 — "Between Two Fires" and "Second Hand Heart" — Morris scored his first No. 1 country hit in March 1985 with "Baby Bye Bye". During what was his most prolific hitmaking part of his career, Morris had three more solo No. 1 hits during the next two years: "I'll Never Stop Loving You", "100% Chance of Rain" and "Leave Me Lonely".[2] He also recorded a chart-topping duet with Crystal Gayle, "Makin' Up For Lost Time (The Dallas Lovers Song)".[2] Although he rarely saw any success outside country music, many of Morris' hit songs were in the pop-country vein during the height of his career.

Morris had two more hits in 1987: the solo "Plain Brown Wrapper" and another duet with Gayle called "Another World". The latter song was used for almost a decade as the theme song for the NBC soap opera.[2] After that, Morris' success on the country charts began to fade, as tastes switched once again to neo-traditional country music. Morris later opened a music publishing office in Nashville, with one of his employees being future star Faith Hill.[5]

In early 2008, Morris released two gospel albums. His most recent CD is called, Faith and Freedom, dedicated to the military troops. Gary Morris performed two songs featured on Juice Newton's album Duets: Friends & Memories, which was released in October 2010.

Acting career

Morris took a break from touring to pursue a serious acting career. One of his first big roles was in the Broadway production of Les Misérables, as Jean Valjean.[2] The full symphonic recording of Les Misérables is a platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning album and features Morris' vocals throughout in the role of Valjean,[2] including his version of the song "Bring Him Home".[6] Morris has also appeared in a production of Puccini's opera La Boheme with fellow country/pop singer Linda Ronstadt.[2]

In the 1980s, he did a stint on The Colbys as blind country music singer Wayne Masterson,[2] signed to Dominique Deveraux's label. On the show, he sang "Try Gettin' Over You" from his Anything Goes release.

In the 1990s, he spent a great deal of time working on music projects, such as the PBS special concert production, in Moscow, Russia, in the Tretyakov Gallery. He returned to country music in the 1990s, performing in concerts and as a record producer. Morris hosted and also produced the Nashville network's The North American Sportsman. In 1992, he appeared in an episode of Designing Women as Julia's surgeon.

Discography

Main article: Gary Morris discography

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 Gary Morris Favorite Country Male Video Artist Nominated

Music City News Country Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1984 Gary Morris Star of Tomorrow Nominated
1985 Male Artist of the Year Nominated
1986 Nominated

Academy of Country Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1983 Gary Morris Top New Male Vocalist Nominated
1984 "Wind Beneath My Wings" Song of the Year Won
1985 Gary Morris Top Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
"Second Hand Heart" Song of the Year Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
1986 Gary Morris Top Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
"I'll Never Stop Loving You" Song of the Year Nominated
Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris Top Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
1987 Nominated
"100% Chance of Rain" Video of the Year Nominated
1988 Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris Top Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated

Country Music Association Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1984 Gary Morris Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
1985 Nominated
"Second Hand Heart" Music Video of the Year Nominated
1986 "100% Chance of Rain" Nominated
Gary Morris Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Gary Morris and Crystal Gayle Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
1987 Nominated

References

  1. ^ Manheim, James. "Gary Morris Biography by James Manheim". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 277. ISBN 0-85112-726-6.
  3. ^ *North Richland Hills, Tex. : CitiCable, [1986]NRH profiles [DVD], Arlita W. Hallam interview.
  4. ^ Gary Morris Biography, AllMusic
  5. ^ Williams, Janet E. (1998). "Faith Hill". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 240.
  6. ^ Gary Morris biography at his official website Archived December 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_Morris&oldid=1219988514"