Morgan's Music plays to an older audience (40+) most of the time.
But even the younger crowds, at weddings and special functions, are
turned on by the sheer magic produced by this band. Don and Phil are a special gift to music lovers who like a mature approach to
music. Their years of experience has made their audience feel so comfortable and relaxed,
it has been said the band makes you feel like you are in your own living room having a
intimate party with friends. "Spontaneous, crazy, upbeat, fun, incredible,
unbelievable, and rockin' are just a few words expressed by fans. Morgan's Music has been
playing at Swan Court, in Richardson, Texas for the better part of ten years. "They
just keep getting better and better", says one of the loyal listeners. There are not
many venues for the 40+ group in Dallas, so if you love to dance, like great variety
music, enjoy fun and camaraderie, check out an amazing group, Morgan's Music.
Don and Phil are two very gifted
musicians and the foundation of the group. Each member has an incredible and unique story
attached to his musical career. The experience acquired through the years makes them one
of Dallas' premier bands. Because Phil is from a different parts of the country,
it must be providence that brought him together with Don.
Don Morgan, (right) plays
keyboards, foot bass pedals, left-handed bass, electronic drums, lead vocals, and fronts
the band.
Don is a native of Dallas, and has performed professionally for 40+ years. He was born
January 10, 1952 into a musical family. Because Elvis was born on the eighth of January,
Dons mother took that as a sign that he would be an entertainer too. So starting his
career at the early age of seven impersonating Elvis, he entertained and sang at home
parties, church gatherings, and big family reunions. Church and teen parties is where he
got his feet wet in the entertainment business. In High School [Irving High 1966-1970],
Don played sax in the school band and had his own rock-in-roll band as well. The band
"Color Us Sleepy" played almost every school function when he was at Irving
High.
At the age of 20, he traveled playing woodwind instruments with wannabe star bands. At
22, he moved back to Dallas to start his own career. Adding keyboards and playing foot
bass pedals to his playing abilities, he worked with such performers as Mary Shannon, Bill Locas, Concepts, Roy Head, Your Mine and Ours, The McBride Brothers and the most
successful of these, The Harvest Band. Then came Texas first all keyboard band with
Sally Towns, David Owen, and Rick Morgan, Dons older brother. With the birth of
Disco, the band split up and pursued other music venues.
Staying in Dallas, Don made his presence known throughout the Dallas Ft. Worth area. His
group became the house band at places like The Sheraton Safari Club 3yrs, The Green Oaks
Inn 1yr, The Stadium Club at Texas Stadium 4yrs, The Preston Cub Behind the Pink wall
7yrs, Cappuccinos Restaurant and Club 3yrs, The Adriatic Restaurant and Club 1yr,
Swan Court Restaurant and Club 12yrs, Cafe de France 7yrs, Eddie V's
4 yrs, and too many other clubs and restaurants to mention.
His new band Morgans Music has been working the circuit now for
25 years. Not only
working the restaurant-club business at this time, Don has been working in the recording
industry in Dallas and Ft. Worth for radio commercials and recording sessions. Such
studios as Tempo Two Studio, Hendersons Studio, McClain Studios, January
Sound, Autumn Sounds, Kirkwood Studios, and his own studio Morgans Music.
Morgan (right) is the keyboardist. His function in the band is to play keyboards, bass
pedals, electronic drums, lead vocals, and front the band.
Phil
Rodgers, (left) plays' sax, percussion, and lead vocal for the band. Phil began playing
Sax in the fourth grade. His first professional "gig" was at age 14 for a local
wedding reception in his home state of Michigan. Having fun and meeting people while
making money was all it took for Phil to be hooked on the music business.
He landed in Dallas 28 years ago after spending 3 years on the road with Mike Yager and
Co. playing venues in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, including The Sahara Hotel opening for
Pete Barbutti, The Dunes, The Mint, Silver Bird, The Harvey, Harrahs, The Fremont opening
for Doug Kershaw and The Four Queens. It was also during this period that MYCO joined
forces with Johnny Harras Elvis review and Phil became Johnnys Bass singer,
which took him on a National concert tour and eventually back to Vegas. Phil has performed
throughout the U.S. including LA, San Francisco, Nashville, Phoenix, Miami and Chicago to
name a few larger cities. He is also a registered BMI songwriter and had songs placed on
the charts in several large college markets in 1987.
Once in Dallas, he spent the next 6 years playing private functions in the region as a
regular player in several local groups including The Marc Jaco Band, which opened The 3rd
Annual Dallas Jazz Fest at Starplex that featured Miles Davis and Spyro Gyra. He also
worked with Carol Marks, Laurie Hollingsworth, The Night Beats with Chick and Charlie
Ramirez, The Roof Raisers, The Johnny High Revue and many others, before joining Morgan's
Music 12 years ago. Phil owns and operates Kirkwood Studio in Dallas, a
corporate/industrial-recording studio with many industry awards to his credit. Some of his
clients include Beauticontrol, The Dallas Opera, Westway Ford, and Toyota of Richardson,
Volvo of Richardson and the DFW Acura Dealer Group. He has also had an extensive recording
career playing on countless sessions for individual artists as well as commercial projects
nationwide.
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