The Morris Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Morris Brothers were an American
country music
group particularly popular in the 1930s, although they continued to play together occasionally until the 1970s.
. Originally, they began performing as a trio together with a third brother, George Morris. In 1933, Zeke moved to Concord
and joined J. E. Mainer
's Crazy Mountaineers He made his first recordings with the Mountaineers in August 1935 för Bluebird Records
. Four years later, in 1937, Wiley and Zeke along with banjo player Wade Mainer
did some radio work in the North Carolina towns of Asheville
and Raleigh
. In April 1938, The Morris Brothers, fiddler Homer Sherrill and banjo player Joel Martin, calling themselves the Smilin' Rangers, performed at radio station WBTM
in Danville, Virginia
. In September 1938, Zeke recorded with Charlie Monroe
as a replacement for Bill Monroe
just after the Monroe Brothers had disbanded. The same year, Zeke's musical career came to a halt when he went to work in a cotton mill in Gastonia
. In 1939, the brothers moved to Asheville and WWNC
radio, where they resumed their career. After World War II
they retired and opened an auto repair business. Between 1938 and 1939, the Morris Brothers made 36 recordings for RCA Victor.
Well known musicians who have played with the Morris Brothers include: Hoke Jenkins, Red Rector, Red Smiley, Don Reno
, Benny Sims and Earl Scruggs
.
the wiley of the morris brothers was my father and of zeke was my uncle. they really used to have jam sessions i loved. there are 2 girls, 3 boys for wiley and his wife evelyn hollingsworth morris and zeke and his wife frances had 1 boy and 5 girls. i used to listen to mom and dad sing together and thought they were very very good. earl scruggs was a very good friend of many years and we would have visits from time to time from so called famous people. it hurts still even after all these years to know i will never be able to go up to his house and say, sing for me daddy. daughter donna morris hunnicutt
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
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...
group particularly popular in the 1930s, although they continued to play together occasionally until the 1970s.
Biography
The Morris Brothers were born in Old Fort, North CarolinaOld Fort, North Carolina
Old Fort is a town in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 959 at the 2008 estimated census. The town is well known for its weekly Mountain Music concerts, attracting large audiences and many musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown each Friday at...
. Originally, they began performing as a trio together with a third brother, George Morris. In 1933, Zeke moved to Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
and joined J. E. Mainer
J. E. Mainer
J. E. Mainer was an American old time fiddler who followed in the wake of Gid Tanner and his Skillet Lickers.-Biography:...
's Crazy Mountaineers He made his first recordings with the Mountaineers in August 1935 för Bluebird Records
Bluebird Records
Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor Records originally created in 1932 to counter the American Record Company in the "3 records for a dollar" market. Along with ARC's Perfect Records, Melotone Records and Romeo Records, and the independent US Decca label, Bluebird became one of the best...
. Four years later, in 1937, Wiley and Zeke along with banjo player Wade Mainer
Wade Mainer
Wade Mainer was an American singer and banjoist. With his band, the Sons of the Mountaineers, he is credited with bridging the gap between old-time mountain music and Bluegrass and is sometimes called the "Grandfather of Bluegrass." In addition, he innovated a two-finger banjo fingerpicking style,...
did some radio work in the North Carolina towns of Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
and Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. In April 1938, The Morris Brothers, fiddler Homer Sherrill and banjo player Joel Martin, calling themselves the Smilin' Rangers, performed at radio station WBTM
WBTM
WBTM is a Full Service formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Danville, Virginia, serving Danville and Southern Pittsylvania County, Virginia. WBTM is owned and operated by Piedmont Broadcasting Corporation.- History :...
in Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. In September 1938, Zeke recorded with Charlie Monroe
Charlie Monroe
Charlie Monroe was an American country and bluegrass music guitarist.-Biography:Monroe was born on his family's farm in Rosine, Kentucky; he was the older brother of the mandolin player Bill Monroe. His sister Bertha also played guitar, and brother Birch, fiddle...
as a replacement for Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
just after the Monroe Brothers had disbanded. The same year, Zeke's musical career came to a halt when he went to work in a cotton mill in Gastonia
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
. In 1939, the brothers moved to Asheville and WWNC
WWNC
WWNC is a radio station in Asheville, North Carolina. It transmits at 5000 Watts of power. It currently has a News/Talk format and is affiliated with Fox News Radio...
radio, where they resumed their career. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
they retired and opened an auto repair business. Between 1938 and 1939, the Morris Brothers made 36 recordings for RCA Victor.
Well known musicians who have played with the Morris Brothers include: Hoke Jenkins, Red Rector, Red Smiley, Don Reno
Don Reno
Don Wesley Reno was an American bluegrass and country musician best known as a banjo player in partnership with Red Smiley, and later with guitarist Bill Harrell.-Biography:...
, Benny Sims and Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
.
the wiley of the morris brothers was my father and of zeke was my uncle. they really used to have jam sessions i loved. there are 2 girls, 3 boys for wiley and his wife evelyn hollingsworth morris and zeke and his wife frances had 1 boy and 5 girls. i used to listen to mom and dad sing together and thought they were very very good. earl scruggs was a very good friend of many years and we would have visits from time to time from so called famous people. it hurts still even after all these years to know i will never be able to go up to his house and say, sing for me daddy. daughter donna morris hunnicutt
External links
- [ Morris Brothers at Allmusic]