Tommy Morgan

Thomas Morgan Edwards (December 4, 1932 – June 23, 2022)[1] was an American harmonicist and session musician, who had been active since the 1950s.[2] He was considered one of the most heard harmonica players in the world, playing in over 500 feature films.[3]

For the political leader also known as Tommy Morgan, see Thomas J. Morgan.

Tommy Morgan
Birth nameThomas Morgan Edwards
Born(1932-12-04)December 4, 1932
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJune 23, 2022(2022-06-23) (aged 89)
GenresPop music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Harmonica
Years active1950s–2013
Websitewww.tmorganharmonica.com

Morgan's extraordinarily prolific career spanned seven decades, and included playing on (and occasionally composing) themes and incidental music for dozens of major Hollywood films, and hundreds of episodes of American television series, including main themes for The Rockford Files and Sanford and Son.[4] Although frequently uncredited in his earlier career (as was typical for session musicians of that era), Morgan also has a huge list of credits in popular music -- among the most notable in that field are his prominent contributions to the seminal mid-1960s recordings by The Beach Boys, including the Pet Sounds album, their number one single "Good Vibrations" and the recordings made for their uncompleted Smile project.

He retired after a stroke in late 2013 and died at the age of 89 on June 23, 2022.[5]

Awards

In 2001, Morgan received a Special Lifetime Achievement Award from The Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica.[6]

Collaborations

Bibliography
  • Morgan, Tommy (1972). Chromatic Harmonica. Gwyn Publishing Company. ASIN B00223O8H4.
  • Morgan, Tommy (1987). Blues Harmonica. Alfred Music. ISBN 978-0739025215.

References
  1. "World's Most Heard Harmonica Player Tommy Morgan Dies Aged 89". Harmonica.uk. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  2. Washburn, Jim (February 6, 1993). "A Harmonica Convergence : Tommy Morgan Brings His Session-Work Talents to Live Performance". Los Angeles Times.
  3. "Musician Comments: Tommy Morgan". The Pet Sounds Sessions (Booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 1997.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. Browne, David (November 24, 2022). "The 100 Greatest TV Theme Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 27, 2023. That lonesome harmonica solo was played by Tommy Morgan, who also honked the licking stick on the Sanford and Son theme
  5. "Tommy Morgan, Harmonica Soloist for 'Dances With Wolves,' 'Roots' and Hundreds More Film and TV Scores, Dies at 89". Variety.com. July 2, 2022.
  6. "SPAH Award Winners". The Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
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