Morris Jennings was an American drummer and musician from Chicago. He recorded as Moe Jennings, M. Jennings, Maurice Jennings, Morris "Gator" Jennings, and Morris Jennings Jr. Jennings is best known for having played drums on the ''

Electric Mud ''Electric Mud'' is the fifth studio album by Muddy Waters, with members of Rotary Connection playing as his backing band. Released in 1968, it imagines Muddy Waters as a psychedelic musician. Producer Marshall Chess suggested that Muddy Waters re ...

'' album by

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago b ...

, the 1969 album ''

The Howlin' Wolf Album ''The Howlin' Wolf Album'' is the first studio album by Howlin' Wolf, released in 1969. It features members of Rotary Connection as his backing band. The album mixed blues with psychedelic rock arrangements of several of Wolf's classic songs. Howl ...

'' by

Howlin' Wolf Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer and guitarist. He is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. Over a four-decade care ...

, and the 1972

Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.

album ''Super Fly''. His work at Chess Records includes "

California Soul "California Soul" is a funk-soul tune written by Ashford & Simpson, issued originally as the B-side of the Messengers' single "Window Shopping" in 1967 under the Motown group of labels. Other recordings *Nick Ashford then released his own vers ...

" by

Marlena Shaw Marlena Shaw (born Marlina Burgess, September 22, 1942) is an American jazz, blues and soul music, soul singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in Hip hop music, hip hop mus ...

, which includes an unusual two-bar break early in the song. Jennings died at his South Side Chicago home of natural causes at age 77 on June 3, 2016.·Morris 'Moe' Jennings, studio drummer at Chess Records, dies at 77."
''Chicago Tribune''. Retrieved June 16, 2016.

Discography

With

Roy Buchanan Leroy "Roy" Buchanan (September 23, 1939 – August 14, 1988) was an American guitarist and blues musician. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Buchanan worked as a sideman and as a solo artist, with two gold albums early in his career and two lat ...

* ''When a Guitar Plays the Blues'' (Alligator, 1985) * ''Dancing On the Edge'' (Alligator, 1986) * ''Hot Wires'' (Alligator, 1987) With

Terry Callier Terrence Orlando "Terry" Callier (May 24, 1945 – October 27, 2012) was an American soul, folk and jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter. Life and career Callier was born in the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in the Cabrini� ...

* '' What Color Is Love'' (Cadet, 1972) * ''I Just Can't Help Myself'' (Cadet, 1973) * ''Fire On Ice'' (Elektra, 1978) * ''TimePeace'' (Talkin' Loud 1998) * ''Lifetime'' (Blue Thumb, 1999) * ''Lookin' Out'' (Columbia, 2004) With

Tyrone Davis Tyrone Davis (born Tyrone D. Fettson or Tyrone D. Branch, October 3, 1937 – February 9, 2005) was an American blues and soul singer with a long list of hit records over more than 20 years. Davis had three number 1 hits on the '' Billboard'' ...

* ''Can't You Tell It's Me'' (Columbia, 1979) * ''I Just Can't Keep On Going'' (Columbia, 1980) * ''Tyrone Davis'' (Highrise 1982) * ''Sexy Thing'' (Future, 1985) * ''Flashin' Back'' (Future, 1988) * ''For the Good Times'' (Life 1994) * ''In the Mood with Tyrone Davis'' (Big Break, 2013) * ''Love and Touch'' (Solid/Funkytowngrooves, 2015) * ''Everything in Place'' (Solid/Funkytowngrooves, 2017) With

The Dells The Dells were an American R&B vocal group. Formed in high school in 1953 by founding members Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, Johnny Funches, Chuck Barksdale, and Michael and Lucius McGill, under the name the El-Rays. They released their first r ...

* ''Freedom Means...'' (Cadet, 1971) * ''The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits'' (Cadet, 1972) * ''Whatever Turns You On'' (20th Century Fox, 1981) * ''I Touched a Dream'' (20th Century Fox, 1980) With

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

* ''Light My Fire'' (Cadet, 1969) * ''Heavy Exposure'' (Cadet, 1969) With

Ramsey Lewis Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. (May 27, 1935 – September 12, 2022) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and radio personality. Lewis recorded over 80 albums and received five gold records and three Grammy Awards in his career. His album '' The ...

* '' Them Changes'' (Cadet, 1970) * '' Back to the Roots'' (Cadet, 1971) * '' Upendo Ni Pamoja'' (Columbia, 1972) * '' Ramsey Lewis' Newly Recorded All-Time Non-Stop Golden Hits'' (Columbia, 1973) * '' Funky Serenity'' (Columbia, 1973) * ''

Solar Wind The solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun, called the corona. This plasma mostly consists of electrons, protons and alpha particles with kinetic energy between . The composition of the sola ...

'' (Columbia, 1974) * ''

Sun Goddess A solar deity or sun deity is a deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it. Such deities are usually associated with power and strength. Solar deities and Sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms. The ...

'' (Columbia, 1974) * '' Don't It Feel Good'' (Columbia, 1975) * ''Ramsey'' (Columbia, 1979) * ''Three Piece Suite'' (Columbia, 1981) * ''Chance Encounter'' (Columbia, 1982) * ''Les Fleurs'' (Columbia, 1983) With

* '' Super Fly'' (RCA, 1972) * ''

Honesty Honesty or truthfulness is a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, theft ...

'' (Boardwalk, 1982) * ''We Come in Peace with a Message of Love'' (CRC, 1985) With others * Green Lyte Sunday, ''Green Lyte Sunday'' (RCA, 1970) *

Inez Andrews Sister Inez Andrews, born Inez McConico (April 14, 1929 – December 19, 2012) and better known as Inez Andrews, was an American gospel singer. Her soaring, wide-ranging voice — from contralto croon to soul-wrenching wail — made her a pillar ...

, ''If Jesus Came to Your Town Today'' (Ichiban, 1988) *

Ben Branch Ben F. Branch (January 8, 1928 – August 27, 1987)

, ''The Last Request'' (Chess, 1968) *

Odell Brown Odell Elliott Brown Jr. (February 2, 1940 – May 3, 2011) was an American jazz organist. He was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing soul jazz and jazz funk with his backing band as Odell Brown & the Organ-Izers. Biography Brown was ...

, ''Free Delivery'' (Cadet, 1970) *

Oscar Brown Jr. Oscar Brown Jr. (October 10, 1926May 29, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, civil rights activist, and actor. Aside from his career, Brown ran unsuccessfully for office in both the Illinois state legislature and the U. ...

, ''Fresh'' (Atlantic, 1974) *

Milton Brunson Milton R. Brunson (June 28, 1929 – April 1, 1997) was an American gospel musician and former pastor and music director of Christ Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. Brunson released his first musical project in 1988, ''Available to ...

, ''To All Generations'' (Creed, 1979) *

Peabo Bryson Robert Peapo "Peabo" Bryson (born April 13, 1951) is an American singer and songwriter. He is known for singing soul ballads (often as a duet with female singers) including the 1983 hit "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" with Roberta Flack. Bryson ...

, ''

Reaching for the Sky ''Reaching for the Sky'' is the second album by soul vocalist Peabo Bryson. Reception Released in 1978, ''Reaching for the Sky'' was Bryson's debut album on Capitol Records, charting with Quiet Storm staple "Feel the Fire" at number 13 on th ...

'' (Capitol, 1977) *

Jerry Butler Jerry Butler Jr. (born December 8, 1939) is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician. He was the original lead singer of the Rhythm and blues, R&B vocal group the Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Rol ...

, ''The Sagittarius Movement'' (Mercury, 1971) *

Champaign Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in Illinois outside the Chicago metropo ...

, ''How 'Bout Us'' (Columbia, 1981) *

The Chi-Lites The Chi-Lites (, ) are an American R&B/soul vocal quartet from Chicago, Illinois, United States. Forming at Chicago's Hyde Park High School in 1959, The group's original lineup consisted of singers Robert Lester, Eugene Record, Creadel Jones, ...

, ''Me and You'' (20th Century Fox, 1981) *

Otis Clay Otis Lee Clay (February 11, 1942 – January 8, 2016) was an American R&B and soul singer, who started in gospel music. In 2013, Clay was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame. Early life Clay was born in Waxhaw, Mississippi, to a musical family, ...

, ''The Only Way Is Up'' (Blues R&B 1985) *

Linda Clifford Linda Clifford (born 1944) is an American R&B, disco and house music singer who scored hits from the 1970s to the 1980s, most notably " If My Friends Could See Me Now", " Bridge over Troubled Water", " Runaway Love" and " Red Light". Care ...

, ''I'll Keep On Loving You'' (Capitol, 1982) *

Albert Collins Albert Gene Drewery, known as Albert Collins and the Ice Man (October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993),Skeely, Richard. "Albert Collins: Biography" Allmusic.com. was an American electric blues guitarist and singer with a distinctive guitar style. ...

, ''Cold Snap'' (Sonet, 1986) *

Jessy Dixon Jessy Dixon (March 12, 1938 – September 26, 2011) was an American gospel music singer, songwriter, and pianist, with success among audiences across racial lines. He garnered seven Grammy award nominations during his career. Musicians with wh ...

, ''You Bring the Sun Out'' (Light 1979) * Charles Earland, ''Earland's Jam'' (Columbia, 1982) *

Cleveland Eaton Cleveland Josephus Eaton II (August 31, 1939July 5, 2020) was an American jazz double bassist, producer, arranger, composer, publisher, and head of his own record company in Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. His most famous accomplish ...

, ''Half and Half'' (Gamble, 1973) * Cleveland Eaton, ''Plenty Good Eaton'' (Black Jazz, 1975) *

Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...

, ''I'm Tired of Driving'' (RCA Victor, 1978) * Donny Hathaway, '' Everything Is Everything'' (ATCO, 1970) * Donny Hathaway, '' Donny Hathaway'' (ATCO, 1971) *

Loleatta Holloway Loleatta Holloway (, ; November 5, 1946 – March 21, 2011) was an American singer known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation". In December 2016, ''Billboard'' named her the 95th most successful dance artist of all time. Acco ...

, ''Loleatta Holloway'' (Gold Mind, 1979) *

, ''

'' (Cadet, 1969) *

Melvin Jackson Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson (August 16, 1915, Tyler, TexasMay 30, 1976, Dallas) was an American blues guitarist and singer. He was a contemporary of Lightnin' Hopkins. Biography Jackson's mother played gospel guitar, and he played early on in a g ...

, ''Funky Skull'' (Limelight, 1969) *

Syl Johnson Sylvester Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson; July 1, 1936 – February 6, 2022) was an American blues and soul singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. His most successful records included "Different Strokes" (1967), " Is It Because I' ...

, ''Back in the Game'' (Delmark, 1994) * Syl Johnson, ''Bridge to Legacy'' (Antone's 1998) *

John Klemmer John T. Klemmer (born July 3, 1946) is an American saxophonist, composer, songwriter, and arranger. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and began playing guitar at the age of five and alto saxophone at the age of 11. His other ear ...

, ''Blowin' Gold'' (Cadet, 1969) * John Klemmer, ''Magic Moments'' (Chess, 1976) *

The Manhattans The Manhattans are an American popular R&B vocal group. Their work " Kiss and Say Goodbye", recorded in 1976, and 1980's " Shining Star", both sold millions of copies. The Manhattans have recorded 45 hits on the ''Billboard'' R&B Chart, includ ...

, ''Black Tie'' (CBS, 1981) * The Manhattans, ''Forever by Your Side'' (Columbia, 1983) *

Brother Jack McDuff Eugene McDuff (September 17, 1926 – January 23, 2001), known professionally as "Brother" Jack McDuff or "Captain" Jack McDuff, was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz er ...

, ''The Natural Thing'' (Cadet, 1968) * Brother Jack McDuff, '' Gin and Orange'' (Cadet, 1969) *

Barry Melton Barry "The Fish" Melton (born June 14, 1947) is the co-founder and original lead guitarist of Country Joe and the Fish and Dinosaurs. He appears on all the Country Joe and the Fish recordings and he also wrote some of the songs that the band re ...

, ''Bright Sun Is Shining'' (Vanguard, 1970) *

Gatemouth Moore Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore (November 8, 1913 – May 19, 2004) was an American blues and gospel singer, songwriter, radio disc jockey, community leader and pastor, later known as Reverend Gatemouth Moore. During his career as a recording a ...

, ''After Twenty-One Years'' (BluesWay, 1973) *

Plush Plush (from French ) is a textile having a cut nap or pile the same as fustian or velvet. Its softness of feel gave rise to the adjective "plush" to describe something soft or luxurious, which was extended to describe luxury accommodation, or s ...

, ''Fed After Hours'' (P-Vine, 2002) *

Eugene Record Eugene Booker Record (December 23, 1940 – July 22, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was best known as the lead vocalist of the Chicago-based vocal group The Chi-Lites from their formation in 1959 un ...

, ''Trying to Get to You'' (Warner Bros., 1978) *

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York ...

, ''

Speak No Evil ''Speak No Evil'' is the sixth album by Wayne Shorter. It was released in June 1966 by Blue Note Records. The music combines elements of hard bop and modal jazz, and features Shorter on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianist Herbi ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1976) *

Rockie Robbins Rockie Robbins is an American soul singer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Biography Robbins was born Edward W. Robbins Jr. He signed for A&M Records in 1979 and cut his first album, which was arranged and produced by veteran Chicago producers, Richar ...

, ''Rockie Robbins'' (A&M, 1979) *

Rotary Connection Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966. In addition to their own recordings, including their 1967 debut album '' Rotary Connection'', the band is notable as the backing band for Muddy Waters on his 196 ...

, ''The Rotary Connection'' (Chess, 1967) *

Sonny Stitt Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his ...

, ''Soul Girl'' (Paula 1973) *

Phil Upchurch Philip Upchurch (born July 19, 1941) is an American jazz and blues guitarist and bassist. Career Upchurch started his career working with the Kool Gents, the Dells, and the Spaniels, before going on to work with Curtis Mayfield, Otis Rush, and ...

, ''

Upchurch Upchurch is a village and civil parish in the Swale district of Kent, England. It is situated just off the A2 road, between Rainham and Sittingbourne. History Upchurch lay on a pre-Roman trackway; the many linking roads are the result of Ro ...

'' (Cadet, 1969) * Phil Upchurch, '' The Way I Feel'' *

, ''

'' (Cadet, 1968) * Muddy Waters, ''After the Rain'' (Cadet, 1969) *

Katie Webster Katie Webster (January 11, 1936 – September 5, 1999), born Kathryn Jewel Thorne, was an American boogie-woogie pianist. Career Webster was initially best known as a session musician behind Louisiana musicians on the Excello and Goldband rec ...

, ''No Foolin'!'' (Alligator, 1991) *

Marvin Yancy Marvin Jerome Yancy (May 31, 1950 – March 22, 1985) was an American gospel musician, pastor and Grammy-winning record producer, and former pastor of Fountain of Life Baptist Church. He started his music career, in 1971, with The Independents, w ...

, ''Heavy Load'' (P.S., 1987)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennings, Morris American jazz drummers 2016 deaths Musicians from Chicago Jazz musicians from Illinois