- Michael McMorrow
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Michael McMorrow Born July 2, 1963 Origin Bremerton, Washington, USA Genres Rock music, American Traditional, Jamband, Adult Contemporary Occupations Composer, Recording Artist, Record Producer Instruments Piano, Hammond Organ, Guitar Years active 1982-present Labels Shadowhawk Records Associated acts Stolen Ogre, Alligator Wine Website www.MichaelMcMorrow.com Michael Sean McMorrow (born July 2, 1963 in Bremerton, Washington USA) is an American musician, composer, and producer, and founding member of jam band Stolen Ogre.In addition to writing songs for the group, McMorrow plays keyboards and acoustic guitar. Michael is a voting member of the Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Contents
History
McMorrow's first training in music came from his Texas-born mother, and from his Irish-born grandfather Frank McMorrow, a fiddler. At 11 years old, Michael was writing, arranging and performing his own compositions on the family piano, and at 12 he won California’s statewide Young Composers Competition.[citation needed]
Wanting to write and play original music, he found like-minded players and enthusiastic audiences in the college town of Ellensburg, Washington, where his band The Yarddogs thrived for close to seven years. The Yarddogs performed with groups such as Delbert McClinton, Jefferson Airplane, Paul Rodgers and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. One reviewer called the Yarddog sound “a shotgun wedding of electric country blues and Pacific Northwest Rural Rock and Roll.”[citation needed] Michael first met Stolen Ogre guitarist David Simpson during this time when David joined the Yarddogs in their final years.
Michael has also made appearances in Yes drummer Alan White's All-star Band.
Michael McMorrow is an a member of the Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences, a voting member of the Grammys and is currently a board member of Music Aid Northwest.
Stolen Ogre
Michael was a part of the Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere (H.O.R.D.E.) Festival tour, where his musical encounters with Brendan Hill (of Blues Traveler) brought the two to form a band.
Stolen Ogre went on to be a National 2005 Relix Magazine Jamoff Winner with the McMorrow-composed "Icing", and highlighted as "Top Bands to Watch" in Relix's December/January 2006 issue.
Producing and benefit work
McMorrow worked closely with nationally syndicated host Bob Rivers in the launch of Twisted Radio from KISW Radio in Seattle.
He later produced an internationally documented concert for the International and American Red Cross during the Gulf War. The show marked the debut of The Lovemongers, (an acoustic side project of Heart), and included Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden's Chris Cornell. He has since gone on to produce and be involved in many Northwest benefit events.
As executive producer and musical director Michael is currently producing Synergia Northwest, a concert event to raise funds and awareness for youth music in the Pacific Northwest, Spring 2011. Synergia Northwest blends classical, contemporary, professional and student musicians into one concert, unifying cultures, ages and musical genres, raising funds to provide extended learning, enrichment and performance opportunities to Northwest area students who would not have the necessary financial resources. A first of its kind event conceived and developed by McMorrow and two years in the planning, Synergia Northwest 2010 proved to be everything it was billed to be and more, all in the name of Washington State Youth Music Education.
Northwest recording artists who lent their talents to the 2010 historic breathtaking performance included some of the Pacific Northwest's most high profile rockers all backed by the 46 piece Synergia Northwest Orchestra. These artists included among others Grammy award-winning drummer Alan White (Yes, John Lennon) renowned guitarist Howard Leese (Heart, Paul Rodgers, Bad Company) with Randy Hansen, Mike Derosier, Michael McMorrow - Grammy nominated Eugene, Oregon native Tracy Bonham (Mother, Mother), visionary six-string violinist Geoffrey Castle, Seattle Seahawk's Blue Thunder Drum Line and a 31 year in the making reunion of original members of "Heart" with Leese, Derosier, Steve Fossen, Roger Fisher and powerhouse vocalist Somar Macek. A special tribute to the groundbreaking music of the late artist and Northwest Native American Indian Beaver Chief by his children and brother in acknowledgement of the area's deep cultural heritage also highlighted the event. Synergia NW has the support and involvement of Seattle Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Young Musicians Excelling Chair, Maestro Gerard Schwarz, Young Musicians Excelling, the Washington Music Educators Association and the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra.
McMorrow has volunteered with prisoners at the Monroe Reformatory, and is an active supporter of public school music programs. He is an a member of the Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences, a voting member of the Grammys and is currently a board member of Music Aid Northwest.
External links
Categories:- American rock musicians
- Musicians from Washington (state)
- 1963 births
- Living people
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