ROOTS of Country Music

The Harold Morrison Story

Born Harold Ralph Morrison, 30 January 1931, Highlonesome, Missouri, USA, d. 21 December 1993, Springfield, Missouri, USA.

Morrison played banjo, guitar, steel guitar and dobro and was also a talented comedian. He made his first radio appearances in 1950 and the following year, he teamed up with fiddler/guitarist Jimmy Gateley, first working with the Red River Rustlers on KJSB Jamestown, North Dakota, before the two moved to WWVA Wheeling, West Virginia.

They worked mainly as a duo but on occasions also played in Dusty Owens' band and played on Columbia Records sessions with Owens in 1954.

They moved to Springfield, Missouri (MO) in 1955 where they became cast members of the newly formed Ozark Jubilee and also toured with Red Foley. By 1958, the Ozark Jubilee cast included The Foggy River Boys, a singing quartet later known as The Marksmen (George Richardson, Les Robertson, Don Taylor and Earl Terry); Harold Morrison (banjo) and Jimmy Gately (guitar), a bluegrass duo and The Wagoner Trio, made up of  Porter Wagoner, Speedy Haworth and Don Warden (steel guitar). 

Morrison also began to play as a session musician. He recorded with the Browns, playing steel guitar on their big hit I Take The Chance and with Porter Wagoner, where he played banjo on that singer's popular numbers I'm Stepping Out Tonight and A Good Time Was Had By All.

In 1957, Mr. Morrison relocated to Nashville, Tennessee where he played steel and dobro on numerous Decca Records recordings with Kitty Wells, including on her hit, I Can't Stop Loving You and on some RCA-Victor Records sides with Johnny Wright. Morrison also toured with the Wells/Wright show for some time.

 (L-R) Doyle Wilburn, Harold Morrison, Teddy Wilburn

Mr. Morrison next joined the Wilburn Brothers both on tour and on their television series. He played banjo on Loretta Lynn's hit, Blue Kentucky Girl. Mr. Morrison made some recordings for Reader's Digest in 1959 and in the mid-60s, he made solo recordings for Decca Records that included instrumentals and comedy songs.

In 1969, Morrison joined George Jones and Tammy Wynette; stayed with them until they divorced and then played with Wynette's band.

In 1975, with his daughter Karla and Benny Williams, he formed the Smoking Bluegrass Band that toured for some years and appeared at major bluegrass festivals. After they disbanded Morrison played with various units but between 1985 and 1987, he had a band in Branson, MO.

In 1989, he was with Ferlin Husky performing at their own theatre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (SC), when Hurricane Hugo demolished the complex. After working for a time with Grandpa Jones, he fronted a new show at Myrtle Beach, SC before returning to Branson, MO in 1992.

Harold Morrison 2nd from right

In contrast to his stage style, Harold Morrison was somewhat shy and extremely modest. His ringing five-string banjo and hill-country foot stomping ballads were as well-received in London's Palladium, Las Vegas' Landmark, or New York City's Philharmonic Hall as they were at numerous state fairs and the Grand Ole Opry. 

Hunt the Coon Tonight

Researched and compiled by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Jan. 15, 2012.