Chad Morgan

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Chad Morgan
Morgan in June 2011
Morgan in June 2011
Background information
Birth nameChadwick William Morgan
Also known asThe Sheik of Scrubby Creek
Born (1933-02-11) 11 February 1933 (age 90)
Wondai, Queensland, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)Comedic singer and guitarist
Instrument(s)Vocals, Guitar
Years active1952–present
LabelsEMI
Websitewww.chadmorgan.com.au

Chadwick William "Chad" Morgan OAM (born 11 February 1933) is an Australian country music singer and guitarist known for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, his prominent teeth and goofy stage persona. In reference to his first recording, he is known as "The Sheik of Scrubby Creek".

Biography

Morgan was born in Wondai, Queensland, the eldest of 14 children to Dave and Ivy Morgan.[1] From an early age he was raised by his grandparents, Bill and Eva Hopkins. After his grandfather died in 1945, he and his grandmother moved back to Scrubby Creek to live with his parents and siblings. Morgan left school at age 12 and found work cutting timber.[1]

Morgan was discovered through Australia's Amateur Hour, a radio talent contest, where he sang his original song "The Sheik of Scrubby Creek" and was a finalist.[1][2] He began recording with Regal Zonophone Records (a subsidiary of EMI) in 1952, while completing his national service obligation in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[2]

Morgan's songs are peppered with Australian slang; one CD compilation is called Sheilas, Drongos, Dills and Geezers.

Morgan's first wife was Pam Mitchell, with whom he had three children - Allan, Chad Jr. and Janelle.

Morgan married again on 14 September 1985 to Joanie, whom he had met the year before. After their marriage Morgan gave up drinking and smoking completely.

Morgan has toured extensively, including with the Slim Dusty Show, the All Star Western Show and his own Chad Morgan Show. He has been prolific in his recorded output and live performances. In 1987 Morgan was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown,[3] and was awarded an OAM in 2004.

Morgan has appeared in three films, Newsfront (1978), Dimboola (1979), and the biographical documentary I'm Not Dead Yet (2011).

Morgan contributed one verse to the Gordon Parsons song "Pub With No Beer". He was dubbed the "clown prince of comedy" by Slim Dusty.[4] He recorded a duet with John Williamson, "A Country Balladeer". He has had platinum and gold album sales and is one of Australia's most popular country music artists.

Morgan performed at Sydney Opera House with Slim Dusty in April 1978. An album of the concert was released three years later, as On & Off The Road. It was released the same year as Sheilas Drongos Dills & Other Geezers which contained 20 of Morgan's hits from the 1950s and 1960s.

In 2009, Morgan wrote a song about his Aboriginal heritage, dedicated to his grandparents who raised him as a child, titled "The Ballad of Bill and Eva".[5] It was recorded with his granddaughter, Caitlin Morgan.[6]

Artists who have impersonated Morgan in their shows include Col Elliott and John Williamson.

Barry Humphries used Morgan as his inspiration for Les Patterson's teeth. [7]

Tex Morton once described Morgan as the only original country music artist in Australia.[8]

In 2008, false rumours of his death began to surface after an announcement on radio station 4GY. The radio station later apologised for the rumour.[9]

Award honours

Australian Roll of Renown

The Australian Roll of Renown honours Australian and New Zealander musicians who have shaped the music industry by making a significant and lasting contribution to Country Music. It was inaugurated in 1976 and the inductee is announced at the Country Music Awards of Australia in Tamworth in January.[10]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 Chad Morgan Australian Roll of Renown inductee

Country Music Awards of Australia

Morgan was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2010 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, the first person to be honoured with this award[11]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Chad Morgan Lifetime Achievement Award awarded

A bronze bust of Morgan was unveiled in Tamworth's Bicentennial Park in 2017.[12]

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Chad Morgan won one awards in that time.[13]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2015 Chad Morgan Country Male Act of the Year Won

Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[14]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2018[15] himself Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award awarded

Tamworth Songwriters Awards

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They commenced in 1986.[16][17]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2013 Chad Morgan Songmaker Award awarded

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums
Title Details
The Sheik of Scrubby Creek
  • Released: 1958
  • Label: Columbia (33MS 7571)
The Chad Morgan Songbook
  • Released: 1962
  • Label: Columbia (33OSX 7662)
The Artistry of Chad Morgan
  • Released: 1967
  • Label: (OCLP 7660)
Cock of the Walk
  • Released: 1972
  • Label: Columbia (SOEX.9828)
Here I Am
  • Released: 1973
  • Label: Columbia (OSX-7751)
Sings John Ashe
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: Columbia (OEX-10216)
One of the Mob
  • Released: 1976
  • Label: Columbia (OEX-10319)
You Can't Keep a Good Man Down
  • Released: 1980
  • Label: Astor (ALPS 1060)
They Call Me the "Sheik"
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: Astor (ALPS 1067)
Chad Charms the Birds
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: EMI (EMX.430012)
Double Decker Blowflies
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: RCA Victor (VAL1 0690)
Don't Drink the Water (In the Outback Mate)
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: RCA Victor (SPLP 1190)
Been There, Done That (Gonna Do It Again)
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Larrikin (LRF 391)
Muckin Round in Muckadilla
  • Released:
  • Label: Chad Morgan
Songs My Old Mates Sang
  • Released:
  • Label: Chad Morgan
Deadly
  • Released:
  • Label: Chad Morgan
Family and Friends
  • Released:
  • Label: Chad Morgan
Quarantined
  • Released: 2021
  • Label: Chad Morgan

Live albums

List of live albums
Title Details
On and Off the Road
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Axis (AX 1148)
Booze Ballads and Broads
(with Terry Gordon)
  • Released: 1986
  • Label:
It's Only the Depth That Counts
  • Released:
  • Label:
Live!
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: k-Tel

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums
Title Details
The Best of Chad Morgan
  • Released: 1978
  • Label: EMI (EMB.10409)
Sheilas, Drongos, Dills and Other Geezers - 20 Chad Morgan Greats
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: EMI (PLAY.1006)
At His Sunday Best
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: J&B Records (JB172)
The Singles Collection - Regal Zonophone and Beyond
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: EMI (5416522)
Cop This Lot: 50 Years, 1952 - 2002
  • Released: 2002
  • Label:
Australian Country Classics
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Master Classics
The Dues are Paid: 60 Years
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: Chad Morgan
Worst of Chad Morgan
  • Released:
  • Label:
More Worst of Chad Morgan
  • Released:
  • Label:
The A-Z of Chad Morgan - Volume 1
  • Released: October 2017
  • Label: Chad Morgan (3300300)
The A-Z of Chad Morgan - Volume 2
  • Released: October 2017
  • Label: Chad Morgan (3300301)
The A-Z of Chad Morgan - Volume 3
  • Released: October 2017
  • Label: Chad Morgan (3300302)

Extended plays

List of EPs
Title Details
Thoughts On Marriage
  • Released: 1961
  • Label: Columbia (SEGO 70053)
Chad Morgan in Person
  • Released: 1962
  • Label: Columbia (SEGO 70060)
In a Cemetery
  • Released: 1967
  • Label: His Master's Voice (7EGO-70075)

Documentary film

A documentary film, I'm Not Dead Yet, was made about Morgan's life. It was written and directed by the filmmaker Janine Hoskings. The DVD was released by Umbrella Entertainment on 6 June 2012.

References

  1. ^ a b c Quinn, Ben (2 October 2004). "Just glad to be Chad". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b Veitch, Jock (29 March 1964). ""The sheik" comes to town". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Roll of Renown". TCMF. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Chad and the other hillbillies". The Northern Rivers Echo. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Not dead yet". The Canberra Times. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  6. ^ "The Dues Are Paid". Chad Morgan (Official website). Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  7. ^ Dave's Diary, (21 July 2011), Chad Morgan Documentary Chad Morgan - Not Dead Yet, Nucountry website
  8. ^ "Chad Morgan show - Offbeat Operations Entertainment Agency - Entertainment Agency Coffs Harbour North Coast NSW". offbeatoperations.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Chad Morgan: No, I'm not dead!", The Daily, 21 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Roll of Renown". Tamworth Country Music Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  11. ^ Belt, Rebecca (24 January 2010). "A golden night out for guitar hero". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2014. The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award went to Chad Morgan, known fondly as The Sheik of Scrubby Creek, and renowned for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs.
  12. ^ Bullock, Laurie. "Chad Morgan bronze bust now stands in Tamworth Bicentennial Park". Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  13. ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  14. ^ "About the Queensland Music Awards". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Past Winners 2018". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Tamworth Songwriters Association". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.

External links