Oliver Morgan (May 6, 1933 – July 31, 2007)[1] was an American R&B singer. A Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee,[2] he is best known for his 1964 hit, "Who Shot the La La".[3]
Oliver Morgan
Morgan on stage with his trademark second-line umbrella, 1996
In 1961, he released his debut single on AFO Records under the pseudonym "Nookie Boy."[6] It was in 1964 that he released his only national hit "Who Shot the La La" which sings about the mysterious situation surrounding the death of singer Lawrence "Prince La La" Nelson in 1963. The recording session took place at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans with Eddie Bo at the piano.[3] Following the success of the song, he went on a tour nationally, but eventually settled as a local singer appearing at local clubs in addition to the New Orleans Jazz Festival.[7] He also had a day job working as a custodian at City Hall and as the caretaker of the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum on Chartres Street.[8]
In 1998, he released his first and only full-length album I'm Home from Allen Toussaint's Nyno label. Toussaint gave him full support providing 5 of the 10 songs and producing and playing on the album.[9] Morgan's Lower Ninth Ward home was destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and he evacuated to Atlanta, Georgia with his wife where their children were living. Morgan died from a heart attack in Atlanta on July 31, 2007. He had not performed since he evacuated out of New Orleans.[10]
^"Oliver Morgan – LMHOF". Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^ abMaloney, Ann (August 1, 2007). "Funeral arrangements final for Oliver Morgan". Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 27, 2023 – via NOLA.com.
^"The New York Sun". The New York Sun. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^"Oliver Morgan | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^Hannusch, Jeff (September 2007). "Obituary: Oliver Morgan (1933–2007)". OffBeat Magazine. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^Hannusch, Jeff (May 17, 1986). "Talent in Action". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^"Oliver Morgan | R&B vocalist,74". Philadelphia Inquirer. August 4, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^"Discogs". Discogs. November 27, 1998. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
^Turner, Richard Brent (2009). Jazz religion, the second line, and Black New Orleans. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN978-0-253-00410-9. OCLC 664127147.
External linksedit
Oliver Morgan's biography on Nyno Records
This article about a United States rhythm and blues singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
oliver, morgan, soap, opera, character, hollyoaks, swimmer, swimmer, 1933, july, 2007, american, singer, louisiana, music, hall, fame, inductee, best, known, 1964, shot, morgan, stage, with, trademark, second, line, umbrella, 1996background, informationborn, 1. For the soap opera character see Oliver Morgan Hollyoaks For the swimmer see Oliver Morgan swimmer Oliver Morgan May 6 1933 July 31 2007 1 was an American R amp B singer A Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee 2 he is best known for his 1964 hit Who Shot the La La 3 Oliver MorganMorgan on stage with his trademark second line umbrella 1996Background informationBorn 1933 05 06 May 6 1933OriginNew Orleans Louisiana U S DiedJuly 31 2007 2007 07 31 aged 74 GenresRhythm and bluesOccupation s SingerInstrument s VocalsYears active1961 2005Life and career editMorgan was born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans Louisiana a neighborhood that was also home to Fats Domino Jesse Hill and Smiley Lewis 4 5 In 1961 he released his debut single on AFO Records under the pseudonym Nookie Boy 6 It was in 1964 that he released his only national hit Who Shot the La La which sings about the mysterious situation surrounding the death of singer Lawrence Prince La La Nelson in 1963 The recording session took place at Cosimo Matassa s studio in New Orleans with Eddie Bo at the piano 3 Following the success of the song he went on a tour nationally but eventually settled as a local singer appearing at local clubs in addition to the New Orleans Jazz Festival 7 He also had a day job working as a custodian at City Hall and as the caretaker of the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum on Chartres Street 8 In 1998 he released his first and only full length album I m Home from Allen Toussaint s Nyno label Toussaint gave him full support providing 5 of the 10 songs and producing and playing on the album 9 Morgan s Lower Ninth Ward home was destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and he evacuated to Atlanta Georgia with his wife where their children were living Morgan died from a heart attack in Atlanta on July 31 2007 He had not performed since he evacuated out of New Orleans 10 References edit The Louisiana Weekly obituary Oliver Morgan LMHOF Retrieved February 11 2021 a b Maloney Ann August 1 2007 Funeral arrangements final for Oliver Morgan Times Picayune Retrieved November 27 2023 via NOLA com The New York Sun The New York Sun Retrieved February 11 2021 Oliver Morgan Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved February 11 2021 Hannusch Jeff September 2007 Obituary Oliver Morgan 1933 2007 OffBeat Magazine Retrieved February 11 2021 Hannusch Jeff May 17 1986 Talent in Action Billboard Retrieved February 11 2021 Oliver Morgan R amp B vocalist 74 Philadelphia Inquirer August 4 2007 Retrieved February 11 2021 Discogs Discogs November 27 1998 Retrieved February 22 2021 Turner Richard Brent 2009 Jazz religion the second line and Black New Orleans Bloomington Indiana University Press ISBN 978 0 253 00410 9 OCLC 664127147 External links editOliver Morgan s biography on Nyno Records nbsp nbsp This article about a United States rhythm and blues singer is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oliver Morgan amp oldid 1218447314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
