Al Morgan (pianist)
| Al Morgan | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Albert Louis Morgan |
| Also known as | Flying Fingers |
| Born | November 12, 1915 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Died | November 18, 1989 November 18, 1989 (aged 74) Maywood, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Pop, Country, Sacred |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, pianist, composer, performer, recording artist |
| Years active | 1946-1989 |
| Labels | London, Decca, W & G, Columbia, Universal, Mercury, Phillips, Brunswick, Oriole, “X”, Coral |
Al "Flying Fingers" Morgan (1915–1989) was a popular nightclub singer, pianist and composer who is known for his hit recordings "Jealous Heart", "I'll Take Care Of Your Cares," and "The Place Where I Worship."
Albert Louis Morgan was born in Cincinnati and raised in nearby Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Morgan's musical foundation started at the Ninth Street Baptist Church in his hometown. Morgan's mother’s plan was for him to be a preacher. His church sent him to Dennison University on a scholarship, but Morgan soon discovered that he was "put on this earth to play and sing, not to preach." As the back cover of his religious album, The Place Where I Worship states: "…until he was twenty-one, practically all of his musical experience was in the sacred field of music."
He then studied violin and voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory and received his master's degree from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. His piano playing was self-taught. Some of his first shows were as a piano sideman in the big band years playing with Glen Miller and Harry James among others. After the Pearl Harbor attack, he served as a rear gunner on B-17s in the US Army Air Force during WWII. He spent considerable time in Europe putting on shows at American installations and base hospitals. After his discharge he returned to Cincinnati. He conducted the staff band at WKRC and had several weekly radio shows. Morgan got his start in show business by playing on the boats that travel up and down the Ohio River near his home-town of Cincinnati. Morgan also bought his own night spot in Cincinnati, the Club Carasal. While working at the Club Carasal, Morgan decided that he would join the entertainment. He became so popular, he decided that he should go on the road.
In November 1946, he gave up his radio job, sold the Club Carasal, and headed for New York. He did a long stretch at Rogers Corner Theater Lounge, a spot across the street from Madison Square Garden. Then he traveled to Chicago. He was booked in Chicago at Helsing's Vodvil Lounge at Sheridan and Montrose on the city’s north side. The manager booked him, sight-unseen, thinking he was a comedian. He didn’t laugh, however, when Morgan sat down at the piano and started playing. That led to The Al Morgan Show, Morgan's half-hour television show, backed by the Billy Chandler Trio, broadcasting from Helsing's. The show was on the DuMonte Television Network, from 1949 to 1951; one of the first shows to be syndicated. In 1952, Morgan was back in Cincinnati, broadcasting his show from WLW Television.
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