So, what shaped Morgan into the artist he is today? The answer is easy and straightforward: his grandfather. Like thousands of others from Southern states, he moved north from a small Kentucky town to work in the auto factories. He was also a guitar player and singer with an extensive collection of country music records. “Every minute I spent with grandpa was mostly about his love of country music by guys like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Paycheck,” Morgan recalled. “He was going to have me listen to it whether I liked it or not and when I was young and didn’t know a whole lot, it just sounded odd to me. But he’d always put on records and play the songs himself.” Grandfather taught eight-year-old Morgan his first guitar chords, igniting the boy’s desire to become a musician. As a teenager, however, Morgan went in a different direction, playing in punk rock bands.
When Morgan was in high school, his musical focus changed drastically after his grandfather passed away, leaving him his acoustic Gibson guitar and that vast collection of old vinyl. Something happened when Morgan began intently soaking in the lyrics and learning to play the music. “There was just something different I felt, sitting alone in a room and learning to play those songs on an acoustic guitar,” he said. “It just felt right and real, much different from going through the motions of learning to play some electric guitar riff.”
Morgan, who has opened for such acts as Bob Seger, Hank Williams III and Lynyrd Skynryd, began touring seriously in 2005 and three years later released his first album, which won three Detroit Music Awards. He was later signed to Bloodshot Records and released the self-titled Whitey Morgan and the 78s in 2010, which reached number 64 on the U.S. Country Albums chart. Earlier this year, the group, which also includes Brett Robinson, Joey Spina and Alex Lyon, was named Outlaw Country Band of the Year by Ameripolitan Music.
Morgan has since parted ways with Bloodshot. “We just didn’t agree on the direction of the band,” he said by way of explanation. Now, Morgan has three albums in the works and hopes to release the first by the end of the year. Next year could bring a live album and one featuring acoustic versions of some of his grandfather’s favorite songs. “We’re really excited about our new record, which we are putting finishing touches on, and we should have it out by Christmas,” he said.
Although he hopes to eventually decrease his tour schedule and devote more time to the creative process, Morgan is still touring heavily. During his concerts, he mixes his original songs and those of his musical heroes, but rarely sticks to a plan. “Any set list I come up with is just a guide, because if people are getting drunk and want to hear some old Merle Haggard song, I’m going to play it,” Morgan said. “People who come to my shows are ready to have a good time, and I’m going to give it to them.” ♦
