Article:
Daddy Denroy guides his flock
Entertainment
By Patrick Foster Observer writer
Sunday, December 18, 2005
If the Morgan family is the Royal Family of Reggae, as they are often called, then Denroy Morgan is a king. Quite like Bob Marley (the undisputed king of Reggae), Denroy Morgan has led a bloodline of successful musicians and cultural ambassadors who have taken Jamaican music worldwide.
Filling their music with spirituality handed down by their Rastafarian father, Morgan Heritage (Denroy Morgan's children) is now one of the leading reggae groups in the world.
Morgan Heritage (Denroy Morgan's children) is now one of the leading reggae groups in the world
But although the group bears the Morgan name that now commands the spotlight, at the root of all the glory is a strict guidance from patriarch Denroy Morgan, himself once a household name.
Of his 30 children, ages 43 to three years, only eight have continued the legacy of their father. Morgan Heritage comprises Mojo, Lukes, Peter, Grandpa, and Una. LMS, a trio of younger siblings, is made up of Laza, Shy-poo and Miriam.
"There are more with talent, but I never force anything on any of them," says Morgan. "They make a choice and I support it."
According to Morgan, his eldest daughter is extremely good on the keyboards but has chosen to become a nurse.
Those who chose music as a career are, however, extremely grateful for the leadership the elder Morgan provides.
"When we were growing up he was the first influence we had," says Laza. "You couldn't ask for a greater influence. It is a blessing having him as a father, that's the substance that kept us strong."
The 59-year-old Morgan became famous in 1981 when the song I'll Do Anything became a worldwide hit. Two other hits - Sweet Tender Love also in 1981 and Happy Feeling in 1982 - followed, but I'll Do Anything remains his signature work.
Ironically, however, even though I'll Do Anything sold more copies than required for a gold status, Morgan says he never received a gold record for the song.
"The president of the record company (Beckett Records) separated the record sizes and said that as a seven-inch it sold 700,000 copies and as a 12-inch it sold about 400,000 copies," explains Morgan. A single normally attains gold status when one million copies are sold.
While his more popular songs of the 1980s are not of the roots, reggae genre, Morgan was, long before that, a proponent of reggae and cultural music.
He gained prominence with the Black Eagles in 1974, a trio which Morgan says, was the first roots and culture group out of New York. "In 1977 we won the New York Reggae Music Festival and got a trip to come home and perform on JBC Television," says Morgan.
The original Black Eagles, comprising Devon 'Igo Levi' Foster, Llewellyn 'Jah T' Breadwood, and Morgan disintegrated before I'll Do Anything was released, but Morgan carried the name over to his new band.
Morgan, a native of May Pen in Clarendon, left Jamaica for the US at age 19 in 1965 and has been involved in music since 1966.
All his children now involved in music were born in the United States, he says. Morgan returned to Jamaica in 1995 and settled in St Thomas after waiting for all his children in the US to complete high school. The business of music, however, continued between Jamaica and the US.
And even while he gained fame and a good life with his music he is most pleased by his children's success.
"My greatest achievement is to see my children's love for music and them being able to create music that inspires other people in their daily lives," he says.
Working together as a family is important for Morgan, who has recently given up the management of Morgan Heritage. LMS, however, still remains under his management.
All the musical family members are now involved in a new album to be released early next year.
"I am working on a gospel album for release in April 2006," says Morgan. "The format is based on the Nyahbingi beat, with traditional melodies, and will bring together the Old and New Testaments."
Taken from the Jamaica Observer
www.jamaicaobserver.com
