Chad Morgan

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".

For the actress, see Chad Morgan (actress).

Chad Morgan

OAM
Morgan in June 2011
Born
Chadwick William Morgan

(1933-02-11) 11 February 1933
Wondai, Queensland, Australia
Other namesThe Sheik of Scrubby Creek
Spouse(s)Pamela June Mitchell (divorced 1970)[1]
Joanie[2]
Musical career
GenresCountry and western
Occupation(s)Comedic singer and guitarist
InstrumentsVocals, Guitar
Years active1952–present
LabelsEMI
Associated actsSlim Dusty, The Muirs, Eddie Tapp, Gordon Larkin
Websitewww.chadmorgan.com.au

Biography

Morgan was born in Wondai, Queensland, the eldest of 14 children to Dave and Ivy Morgan.[3] 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.[3]

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.[3][4] 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).[4]

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,[5] 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.[6] 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".[2] It was recorded with his granddaughter, Caitlin Morgan.[7]

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. [8]

Tex Morton once described Morgan as the only original country music artist in Australia.[9]

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.[10]

Award honours

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]

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

Discography
  • Family and Friends
  • Duckinwilla Dance (1959)[13]

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.

DVD

Live at the Long Yard "Busted"

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References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Not dead yet". The Canberra Times. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. Quinn, Ben (2 October 2004). "Just glad to be Chad". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. Veitch, Jock (29 March 1964). ""The sheik" comes to town". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  5. "Roll of Renown". TCMF. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  6. "Chad and the other hillbillies". The Northern Rivers Echo. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  7. "The Dues Are Paid". Chad Morgan (Official website). Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  8. Dave's Diary, (21 July 2011), Chad Morgan Documentary Chad Morgan - Not Dead Yet, Nucountry website
  9. "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.
  10. "Chad Morgan: No, I'm not dead!", The Daily, 21 January 2008.
  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. "Chad Morgan". Discogs. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
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