Richard Edwin Morrissey (9 May 1940 – 8 November 2000) was a British

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

musician and composer. He played the

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (whi ...

soprano saxophone The soprano saxophone is a small, high-pitched member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented in the 1840s by Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax. Built in B♭ an octave above the tenor saxophone (or rarely, slightly small ...

and

flute The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In th ...

Biography

Background

He was born in

Horley Horley is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in Surrey, England, south of the towns of Reigate and Redhill. The county border with West Sussex is to the south with Crawley and Gatwick Airport close to the town. It has its own econ ...

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

, England. Dick Morrissey emerged in the early 1960s in the wake of

Tubby Hayes Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes (30 January 1935 – 8 June 1973) was a British jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his virtuosic musicianship on tenor saxophone and for performing in jazz groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and trump ...

, Britain’s pre-eminent sax player at the time. Self-taught, he started playing clarinet in his school band, The Delta City Jazzmen, at the age of sixteen with fellow pupils Robin Mayhew (trumpet), Eric Archer (trombone), Steve Pennells (banjo), Glyn Greenfield (drums), and young brother Chris on

tea-chest bass A tea chest is a type of wooden case originally produced and used to ship tea to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The conventional tea chest is a case with riveted metal edges, of approximate size . Modern tea chests (202 ...

. He then joined the Original Climax Jazz Band. Going on to join trumpeter Gus Galbraith's Septet, where alto-sax player Peter King introduced him to

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz Saxophone, saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of beb ...

's recordings, he began specialising on tenor saxophone shortly after. Making his name as a hard bop player, he appeared regularly at the

Marquee Club The Marquee Club was a music venue in London, England, that opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts. It was a small and relatively cheap club, in the heart of London's West End of London, West End. It was the location of the first ...

from August 1960, and recorded his first solo album at the age of 21, ''

It’s Morrissey, Man! ''It's Morrissey, Man!'' is an album by saxophonist Dick Morrissey. It was recorded on 27 April 1961. It was Morrissey's first album as a leader. The liner notes were written by Benny Green. In 1998, Polygram's Redial division, run by Richard ...

'' (1961) for Fontana, featuring Stan Jones on piano, Colin Barnes on drums, and

The Jazz Couriers The Jazz Couriers were a British jazz quintet formed in April 1957 and which disbanded in August 1959. The quintet's first line-up consisted of Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott on tenor saxophones,Malcolm Cecil Malcolm Cecil (9 January 1937 – 28 March 2021) was a British jazz bassist, record producer, engineer, electronic musician and teacher. He was a founding member of a leading UK jazz quintet of the late 1950s, the Jazz Couriers, He spent most of 1962 in Calcutta, India as part of the

Ashley Kozak Ashley Kozak (c.1930 – 2008) was a British jazz bassist, record producer and artists' manager, best known as having been Donovan's manager alongside Grahame Corbyn. Career 1950s After working and recording with Tony Crombie and his orchestra in ...

Quartet, playing three two-hour sessions seven days a week, before returning to the UK and forming his quartet with

Harry South Harry Percy South (7 September 1929 – 12 March 1990) was an English jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, who moved into work for film and television. Career South was born in Fulham, London. He came to prominence in the 1950s, playing wi ...

– who had also been in the quartet in Calcutta – on piano. They were joined by former The Jazz Couriers bassist

Phil Bates Philip Bates (born 30 March 1953) is an English musician who has been a member of many notable bands, including Trickster and Quill, and was the lead guitarist, songwriter and joint lead vocalist for ELO Part II from 1993 through to 1999 and t ...

and variously, another ex-The Jazz Couriers member,

Bill Eyden William James Eyden (4 May 1930 – 15 October 2004) was an English jazz drummer. Biography The son of James Eyden and Ivy (née Tiller), his first professional gig was in 1952 with the Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band. He was soon working with Ra ...

, Jackie Dougan or

Phil Seamen Philip William Seamen (28 August 1926 – 13 October 1972) was an English jazz drummer. With a background in big band music, Seamen played and recorded in a wide range of musical contexts with virtually every key figure of 1950s and 1960s Brit ...

on drums. The Dick Morrissey Quartet recorded three LPs, ''

Have You Heard? "Have You Heard?" is a popular song written by Lew Douglas, Frank LaVere and LeRoy W. Rodde and published in 1952. The biggest hit version was recorded by Joni James in 1952, charting the next year. The recording by Joni James was released b ...

'' (1963); the live recording '' Storm Warning!'' (1965) on Mercury; and '' Here and Now and Sounding Good!'' (1966). The quartet, played regular London gigs at The Bull's Head, Barnes and at

Ronnie Scott's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959. History The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Sco ...

, whose manager, Pete King, once said that Ronnie's was kept going in those days due to the crowds Dick Morrissey pulled in. During this time he also played extensively in bands led by Ian Hamer and Harry South, including The Six Sounds, featuring Ken Wray and Dick Morrissey, a band which by 1966 had developed into the Ian Hamer Sextet featuring South, Dick Morrissey, Keith Christie, Kenny Napper and Bill Eyden, among other leading UK-based jazz musicians. He also played briefly in Ted Heath's Big Band, which featured many name jazz musicians over the years, as well as appearing as a featured guest on the classic

Johnny Dankworth Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females. Varian ...

and his Orchestra recording, ''What the Dickens!'' and the Harry South Big Band. Likewise, together with fellow tenors Stan Robinson and

Al Gay Albert Gay (born ''Albert Goldstein''; 25 February 1928 – 12 October 2013) was a British jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography After having played with the Jive Bombers, Gay worked with Freddy Randall from 1953, and would return several times to ...

, baritone sax Paul Carroll, and trumpets

Ian Carr Ian Carr (21 April 1933 – 25 February 2009) was a Scottish jazz musician, composer, writer, and educator. Carr performed and recorded with the Rendell-Carr quintet and jazz-fusion band Nucleus (band), Nucleus, and was an associate professor a ...

Kenny Wheeler Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, Order of Canada, OC (14 January 1930 – 18 September 2014) was a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. from the 1950s onwards. Most of his performances were rooted in jazz, but he w ...

and Greg Brown, Dick Morrissey formed part of (

Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist of the rhythm and blues, R&B and Rock music, rock band The Animals and the funk band War (band), War. He is regarded as one of the Br ...

and) The Animals' Big Band that made its one-and-only public appearance at the 5th Annual British Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond (1965). By the mid-1960s, he had over two consecutive years come in second place behind Hayes in the

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

Jazz Poll (1966 & 1967). Many US musicians touring Britain during the Sixties and early Seventies recorded with him. They included

Brother Jack McDuff Eugene McDuffy (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. He was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era ...

, a live recording with

Jimmy Witherspoon James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues and jazz singer. Early life, family and education Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, an ...

, two LPs with J. J. Jackson, and

Sonny Stitt Sonny Stitt (born Edward Hammond Boatner Jr.; February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982) 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 era, recording over ...

together with guitarist

Ernest Ranglin Ernest Ranglin (born 19 June 1932) is a Jamaican guitarist and composer who established his career while working as a session guitarist and music director for various Jamaican record labels, including Studio One and Island Records. Ranglin pl ...

(live at Ronnie Scott's). Dick Morrissey performed regularly at the

National Jazz Festival The National Jazz and Blues Festival was the precursor to the Reading Rock Festival and was the brainchild of Harold Pendleton, the founder of the prestigious Marquee Club in Soho. History Initially called The National Jazz Festival, it was ...

in the 1960s; his last appearance under his own name there was at the 6th festival held at Windsor (1966), although he would return to the festival with '' If'' in 1972 for their only appearance. In 1969, Dick Morrissey, by then many-time winner and runner-up of the

Jazz Poll, teamed up with another Melody Maker award-winner, guitarist Terry Smith, with whom he had worked in J. J. Jackson’s Band, to form an early jazz-rock group, '' If''.

Morrissey–Mullen

When ''If'' disbanded in 1975, Dick Morrissey went to Germany on a tour with

Alexis Korner Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major i ...

and then to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

to tour and record with the

Average White Band The Average White Band (also known as AWB) was a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They were best known for their million-selling instrumental track " Pick Up the Pieces", and their alb ...

, and met up with Glaswegian guitarist,

Jim Mullen Jim Mullen (born 26 November 1945) is a Scottish, Glasgow-born jazz guitarist with a distinctive style, like Wes Montgomery before him, picking with the thumb rather than a plectrum. Biography Jim Mullen was guitarist with Pete Brown & Piblo ...

, who had played with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express with some of the members of AWB, and together they formed

Morrissey–Mullen Morrissey–Mullen were a British jazz-funk/fusion group of the 1970s and 1980s. Considered one of the most popular jazz groups in London, the band was led by Dick Morrissey on tenor and soprano saxes and flute, and Jim Mullen on guitar, who ...

, recording their first album, ''Up'' (1976) in New York. During their stay in New York, word got around, and soon big names began arriving to join them for jam sessions, such as Steve Gadd, David Sanborn, George Benson and, every night for a week, the Brecker Brothers. On returning to Great Britain, Morrissey–Mullen formed a band which rapidly became Britain’s most highly acclaimed jazz-fusion band of the day, initially including two top

session musicians A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a record ...

from

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, Frank Gibson, Jr. and

Bruce Lynch Bruce Lynch (born 1 June 1948, in New Zealand) is an electric and acoustic bassist, producer and arranger. Music career Arriving in the UK in the mid-1970s, Lynch became a commercially successful session musician, touring extensively with C ...

. Morrissey-Mullen recorded seven albums over the 16 years they were together, with Morrissey and Mullen collaborating on each other’s solo albums, notably ''After Dark'' (1983) with

John Critchinson John William Frank Critchinson (24 December 1934 – 15 December 2017) also known as "Critch", was an English jazz pianist. Biography Critchinson was born in London in 1934. He worked as a part-time musician with Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, and ...

Ron Mathewson Rognvald Andrew Mathewson (19 February 1944 – 3 December 2020) was a British jazz double bassist and bass guitarist. During his career, Mathewson performed with Ronnie Scott, but also recorded with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Joan Armatra ...

Martin Drew Martin Drew (11 February 1944 – 29 July 2010) was an English jazz drummer who played with Ronnie Scott between 1975 and 1995 and with Oscar Peterson between 1974 and 2007. Career Martin Drew was born on 11 February 1944 in Northampton, Englan ...

, Barry Whitworth. The line-up for later gigs also featured John Burch on piano, with whom Dick Morrissey would also form an informal group called "Our Band", also featuring Louis Stewart and/or Jim Mullen on guitar, as well as the above-mentioned Ron Mathewson and Martin Drew. The Average White Band both played on and produced the first album UP with backup vocals provided by Luther Vandross, Cissi Houston and others. During that period, Dick Morrissey also recorded ''

Souliloquy ''Souliloquy'' is an album recorded by Dick Morrissey in 1986. It was his second solo album for Coda. Track listing #"Clouds" (Sérgio Mendes) #"East Sunrise" (Nippy Noya, Max Middleton) #"Lord Mayo" (Traditional; arranged by Dick Morrisse ...

'' (1986), featuring

Max Middleton David Maxwell Middleton (born 4 August 1946) is an English composer and keyboardist. Trained as a classical pianist, Middleton also had a strong affinity for jazz. He is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes electric piano and the Minimoog sy ...

, Kuma Harada, Robert Ahwai (all three of whom had also appeared on Morrissey–Mullen's first UK-recorded album, ''Cape Wrath'', in 1979),

Steve Ferrone Stephen A. Ferrone (born 25 April 1950) is an English drummer. He is known as a member of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from 1994 to 2017, replacing original drummer Stan Lynch, and as part of the "classic lineup" of the Aver ...

, Danny Cummings,

Bob Weston Bob Weston (born 1965) is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason AnkenyAnkeny, Jason. " Bob Weston: Overview from Allmusic.com declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over t ...

and

Lenny Zakatek Lenny Zakatek (born Lenny du Platel, 29 July 1947) is a British singer and musician. Born in Karachi just prior to it becoming a part of Pakistan, he has lived in London since the age of thirteen. Zakatek is best known for his work with the Bri ...

Other collaborations

As well as leading his own jazz combos, as a "musicians' musician," Dick Morrissey was in continuous demand as a guest artist with other British or UK-based jazz musicians, most especially with trios and quartets. Thus he was often to be found jamming with established names such as

Bill Le Sage William A. Le Sage (20 January 1927 – 31 October 2001) was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader. Early life Le Sage was born in London on 20 January 1927. His father, William (1899-1951) was a drummer and his tw ...

Roy Budd Roy Frederick Budd (14 March 1947 – 7 August 1993) was a British jazz pianist and composer known for his film scores, including ''Get Carter'' and ''The Wild Geese''. Early life Born in South Norwood, South London, Budd became interested in mu ...

, Ian Hamer,

Tony Lee Tony Lee is a British comics writer, screenwriter, audio playwright, and novelist. Early life Born in 1970, Tony Lee attended Hayes Manor School, now Rosedale College. Career A #1 ''New York Times'' bestselling writer, Lee has written for ...

, Tony Archer,

Michael Garrick Michael Garrick (30 May 1933 – 11 November 2011)Peter VacheObituary: Michael Garrick ''The Guardian'', 15 November 2011 was an English jazz pianist and composer, and a pioneer in mixing jazz with poetry recitations and in the use of jazz in ...

(who dedicated him his 1965 composition "Leprechaun Leap"),

Spike Robinson Henry Bertholf "Spike" Robinson (January 16, 1930 – October 29, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began playing at age twelve, recording on several labels, including Discovery, Hep and Concord. However, he sought an engineering ...

Allan Ganley Allan Anthony Ganley (11 March 1931 – 29 March 2008) was an English jazz drummer and arranger. Career Ganley was born in Tolworth, Surrey, England. A self-taught drummer, in the early 1950s Ganley played in the dance band led by Bert Ambrose. ...

, alto saxophonist Peter King,

Ray Warleigh Raymond Kenneth Warleigh (28 September 1938 – 21 September 2015) was an Australian alto saxophonist and flautist. Background Ray Warleigh was born in Sydney, Australia, and migrated to England in 1960, where he quickly established himself as ...

, etc. In between regular M&M gigs, Dick Morrissey would also meet up with old friends Ian "Stu" Stewart,

Charlie Watts Charles Robert Watts (2 June 1941 – 24 August 2021) was an English musician who was the drummer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 until his death in 2021. Originally trained as a Graphic designer, graphic artist, Watts developed an interest i ...

Jack Bruce John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish musician. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and ‍bassist ‍of Rock music, rock band Cream (band), Cream. After the group disbanded in 1968, he pursued a ...

Colin Hodgkinson Colin Hodgkinson (born 14 October 1945, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England) is a British rock, jazz and blues bassist, who has been active since the 1960s. Career Hodgkinson played in several bands, but was even more prolific as a sessio ...

, Don Weller,

Zoot Money George Bruno "Zoot" Money (17 July 1942 – 8 September 2024) was an English vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader. He was best known for playing the Hammond organ and for his leadership of the Big Roll Band. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ra ...

, John Picard and Colin Smith, to play

boogie-woogie Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, but already developed in African-American communities since the 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually ex ...

/jazz/rock with the back-to-the-roots fun band,

Rocket 88 "Rocket 88" (originally stylized as Rocket "88") is a song that was first recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, in March 1951. The recording was credited to " Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats"; while Brenston did provide the vocals, the band was actu ...

, that Stewart put together with boogie-woogie pianist Bob Hall. Apart from the early recordings with visiting US performers mentioned above, Dick Morrissey also toured and/or recorded with

Charly Antolini Charly Antolini (born 24 May 1937) is a Swiss jazz drummer. Career Born in Zürich, Antolini started playing the traditional Swiss Basler drum. In 1956, he went to Paris, where he played with Sidney Bechet and Bill Coleman. He joined the Tre ...

(several albums),

Hoagy Carmichael Hoagland Howard "Hoagy" Carmichael (November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, actor, author and lawyer. Carmichael was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s and 1940s, a ...

, participating on Hoagy's last album, ''

In Hoagland ''In Hoagland'' is an album by Georgie Fame, Annie Ross and Hoagy Carmichael, featuring a band of leading UK jazz musicians and arrangements by Harry South. Originally released under the title ''In Hoagland '81'', it was recorded in London and r ...

'' (1981) featuring Georgie Fame and

Annie Ross Annie Ross (born Annabelle Allan Short; 25 July 193021 July 2020) was a British-American singer and actress, best known as a member of the influential jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. She helped pioneer the vocalese style of jazz sin ...

, with arrangements by Harry South, Mike Carr,

Georgie Fame Georgie Fame (born Clive Powell; 26 June 1943) is an English R&B and jazz musician. Fame, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still performing, often working with contemporaries such as Alan Price, Van Morrison and Bill Wyman. Fame is the only B ...

Brian Auger Brian Albert Gordon Auger (born 18 July 1939) is an English jazz rock and rock keyboardist who specialises in the Hammond organ. Auger has worked with Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Sonny Boy Williamson, Eric B ...

Dusty Springfield Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), better known by her stage name Dusty Springfield, was a British singer. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano voice, she was a popular singer of blue-eyed soul, Pop mus ...

Freddie Mack Freddie Mack (15 September 1934 – 11 January 2009), sometimes also spelled Freddy Mack and also known as Mr. Superbad, was a light-heavyweight boxer. He later enjoyed success in the UK as a Funk/Soul singer and DJ. Biography Mack was born o ...

Pete York Peter York (born 15 August 1942 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England) is an English rock drummer who has been performing since the 1960s. Biography Born in Middlesbrough but growing up in Redcar, York attended the Nottingham High School an ...

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...

Orange Juice Orange juice is a liquid extract of the orange (fruit), orange tree fruit, produced by squeezing or reaming oranges. It comes in several different varieties, including blood orange, navel oranges, valencia orange, clementine, and tangerine. As ...

Gary Numan Gary Anthony James Webb (born 8 March 1958), known professionally as Gary Numan, is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He entered the music industry as frontman of the New wave music, new wave band Tubeway Army. After releasing two st ...

(he appeared on a number of Numan's albums throughout the 1980s),

Phil Carmen Phil Carmen (born Herbert Hofmann, 14 February 1953) is a Swiss musician and producer. Early career Born in Lucerne, Switzerland, Carmen grew up in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and Lucerne. In Lucerne, he went to the Conservatory, but later st ...

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz Flute, flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet ...

Shakatak Shakatak are an English jazz-funk band founded in 1980 by Bill Sharpe, Nigel Wright, Roger Odell and Keith Winter. An initial white label record, white label release, "Steppin", caught attention by Passion records label owner Les McCutcheon a ...

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career wit ...

(the solo in "Start" and several other tracks from his third album),

Jon Anderson Jon Anderson (born John Roy Anderson, 25 October 1944) is a British, and latterly American, singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the former lead singer of the progressive rock band Yes (band), Yes, which he formed in 1968 with bassis ...

(and as a member of the New Life Band's The Song of Seven Tour in 1980),

Demis Roussos Artemios "Demis" Ventouris-Roussos ( ; , ; 15 June 1946 – 25 January 2015) was a Greek-Egyptian singer, songwriter and musician. As a band member, he is best remembered for his work in the progressive rock music act Aphrodite's Child, but as a ...

Jon & Vangelis Jon and Vangelis was a music collaboration between British rock singer Jon Anderson (lead vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes) and Greek synthesiser musician Vangelis. The duo released four albums between 1980 and 1991. History In 1974, Va ...

and

Vangelis Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou (, ; 29 March 1943 – 17 May 2022), known professionally as Vangelis ( ; , ), was a Greek musician, composer, and producer of electronic, progressive, ambient, and classical orchestral music. He composed ...

, Gino Vanelli, as well as playing the haunting saxophone solo on the

composition "Love Theme" for the 1982 film ''

Blade Runner ''Blade Runner'' is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, it is an adaptation of Philip K. Di ...

''. Other musicians and performers Dick Morrissey shared the stage with include Allan Holdsworth, Robert Fripp,

David "Fathead" Newman David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an American jazz and rhythm-and-blues saxophonist, who made numerous recordings as a session musician and leader, but is best known for his work as a sideman on seminal 1950s an ...

Tommy Körberg Bert Gustav Tommy Körberg (; born 4 July 1948) is a Swedish singer, actor and musician. English-speaking audiences know him best for his role as Anatoly/"The Russian" in the musical ''Chess''. He played the role on the 1984 concept album, and ...

Boz Scaggs William Royce "Boz" Scaggs (born June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was a bandmate of Steve Miller (musician), Steve Miller in the Ardells in the early 1960s and a member of the Steve Miller Band from 1967 to 196 ...

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

David Sanborn David William Sanborn (July 30, 1945 – May 12, 2024) was an American alto saxophonist. He worked in many musical genres; his solo recordings typically blended jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He began playing the saxophone at the age o ...

Steve Gadd Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American jazz fusion drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and most highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction i ...

Richard Tee Richard Edward Tee (born Richard Edward Ten Ryk; November 24, 1943 – July 21, 1993) was an American jazz fusion pianist, studio musician, singer and arranger, who had several hundred studio credits and played on such notable hits as " I'll B ...

Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was inducted into the '' Mode ...

Michael Brecker Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as a performer and composer, received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in ...

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock music, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was ...

Sonny Fortune Cornelius "Sonny" Fortune (May 19, 1939 – October 25, 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist. He played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, clarinet, and flute. Biography He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Af ...

Sonny Sharrock Warren Harding "Sonny" Sharrock (August 27, 1940 – May 25, 1994) was an American jazz guitarist. His first wife was singer Linda Sharrock, with whom he recorded and performed. One of only a few prominent guitarists who participated in the fir ...

and

Teddy Edwards Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. He learned to play at a very early age, first on alto saxophone ...

(with whom he jammed a "duel" at London's

100 Club The 100 Club is a music venue located at 100 Oxford Street, London, England, where it has been hosting live music since 24 October 1942. It was originally called the Feldman Swing Club, but changed its name when the father of the current owner ...

in the early 1980s),

Mel Collins Melvyn Desmond Collins (born 5 September 1947, Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician. Collins has played in several progressive rock groups, having been a member of King Crimson on two occasions (the first from ...

Dick Heckstall-Smith Richard Malden Heckstall-Smith (26 September 1934 – 17 December 2004) was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most influential English blues rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s. He is known for pr ...

John Surman John Douglas Surman (born 30 August 1944) is an English jazz saxophone, Clarinet family, clarinet, and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music. He has composed and performed music for danc ...

Graham Bond Graham John Clifton Bond (28 October 1937 – 8 May 1974) was an English rock/blues musician and vocalist, considered a founding father of the English rhythm and blues boom of the 1960s. Bond was an innovator, described as "an important, und ...

Klaus Doldinger Klaus Doldinger (; born 12 May 1936) is a German saxophonist known for his work in jazz and as a film music composer. He was the recipient of the 1997's Bavarian Film Awards. He is also a frequent collaborator of German filmmaker Wolfgang Pet ...

, Al Casey, Miller Anderson, Bridget St. John, Paul Carrack, The Style Council, Daryl Hall, Keith Emerson, Shakatak and so on. Whatever the style of music he was playing, be it pop, rock, hard bop or straight ahead jazz, Dick Morrissey showed that music could be appreciated at many different levels, and that even the most simplistic pop or rock song could be embellished with an authentic jazz groove. In this way he was able to reach new audiences and albeit indirectly, introduce people to jazz. When at different stages of his career, journalists asked him to define his style, he would refer to

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

's definition: "It's all music" and pointing out that for Ellington there were only two types of music: "good" or "bad". To that end, his last few recordings concentrated more than ever on

jazz standards Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive List ...

and the

Great American Songbook The Great American Songbook is the loosely defined canon of significant 20th-century American jazz standards, popular songs, and show tunes. Definition According to the Great American Songbook Foundation: The "Great American Songbook" is th ...

Death

Morrissey died on 8 November 2000, aged 60, after many years fighting various forms of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

. To the end of his life, he could be seen and heard, seated in his wheelchair, playing to a full house at his local pub, The Alma, in

Deal, Kent Deal is a coastal town in Kent, England, which lies where the North Sea and the English Channel meet, north-east of Dover, England, Dover and south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town whose history is closely linked t ...

. His last gig was a reunion with the Morrissey–Mullen band (including Jim Mullen and Pete Jacobsen) at the Astor theatre in Deal. His funeral, held in Deal, was attended by many of his fellow musicians including

. Following his death, the UK national press published the following obituaries (excerpts): In the obituary published in ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'', British music critic

Chris Welch Chris Welch (born ) is an English music journalist, critic, and author who is best known for his work from the late 1960s as a reporter for ''Melody Maker'', ''Musicians Only'', and ''Kerrang!''. He is the author of over 40 music books. Earl ...

wrote that Dick Morrissey was a

"fiery musician who straddled the worlds of jazz and rock, but with a style built firmly on bebop and widely regarded as the most brilliant British saxophonist to emerge in the wake of
Tubby Hayes Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes (30 January 1935 – 8 June 1973) was a British jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his virtuosic musicianship on tenor saxophone and for performing in jazz groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and trump ...
. His advocacy of jazz-rock fusion successfully brought jazz to a rock audience and rock to a jazz audience".

Steve Voce Steve Voce (23 December 1933 – 23 November 2023) was a British journalist and music critic. As well as writing obituaries for ''The Independent'', he was a columnist for ''Jazz Journal'', and presented the ''Jazz Panorama'' radio programme on B ...

wrote in ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

''s obituary that Morrissey had the

"ability to get through to an audience. He was one of the great communicators of jazz and ... able to communicate with his listeners and quickly to establish a bond with them ... ke
Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz Saxophone, saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of beb ...
before him, he was somehow able to lift audiences that knew little or nothing about his music". Although one could from time to time imagine a feel of the American players
Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American retired jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, Rollins recorded over sixt ...
or
Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...
in Morrissey's work, he was outstanding among British players for his originality. Despite the sophistication of his ideas there was often a down-home quality to his punchy and hard swinging solos, and this was a reflection of one of his idols, the tenorist
Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophone, tenor saxophonist and record producer. He began his career playing R&B for Earl Bostic and later soul jazz recording for the Blue Note Reco ...
. He was a lightning improviser and the flood of his inventions flew through his fingers with ease, for he was a masterful player."

Ronald Atkins Ronald Henry Atkins (13 June 1916 – 30 December 2020) was a British Labour politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Preston North for two terms: from 1966 until 1970, and from February 1974 until 1979. His career in British p ...

, writing in ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', put it thus:

"
John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the Jazz#Post-war jazz, history of jazz and 20th-century musi ...
's approach to the tenor had yet to make much of an impact in Britain, and Morrissey came up with a startling and warmly appreciated blend of
Stan Getz Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wis ...
and Sonny Rollins, the phrasing of one allied to the abrasive tones of the other. He was also influenced by the example of Tubby Hayes, whose lightening-quick icforays through complex harmonies he was probably the first to emulate".

The obituary in ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

'' read:

"Dick Morrissey, who has died aged 60, was among the finest European jazz musicians of his generation. His command of the tenor saxophone was masterly, but it was the unforced fluency of his playing, expressed in a characteristically broad and sweeping tone, that attracted the greatest admiration. Stylistically, Morrissey was so flexible that he was able to fit happily into many contexts, from straightforward hard-bop, through jazz-rock and jazz-funk to soul-inflected pop music. He possessed the remarkable knack of making everything he played sound not only exciting but happy."

Discography

Albums

*''

'' (1961) – The Dick Morrissey Quartet *''

'' (1963) – The Dick Morrissey Quartet *'' There and Back'' (live 1964/1965 – released 1997) – The Dick Morrissey Quartet *'' Storm Warning!'' (live Nov. 1965) – The Dick Morrissey Quartet *'' Here and Now and Sounding Good!'' (September 1966) – The Dick Morrissey Quartet *''Sonny’s Blues: Live at Ronnie Scott’s'' (live 1966) –

with The Dick Morrissey Quartet *''Spoon Sings and Swings'' (live 1966) –

with The Dick Morrissey Quartet *''After Dark'' – Dick Morrissey (1983) *''

'' – Dick Morrissey (1986) *''Resurrection Ritual'' – Dick Morrissey (1988) *''Love Dance'' – Dick Morrissey (live 1989) *''

Charly Antolini Meets Dick Morrissey ''Charly Antolini Meets Dick Morrissey'' is the second album recorded by Swiss drummer Charly Antolini and British tenor sax player Dick Morrissey. The tracks are jazz and standards repertoire and were recorded live at Pizza Express' Pizza on ...

'' (live 1990)

With If

*'' If'' – aka ''If 1'' (1970) *''

If 2 ''If 2'' is the second release by the English Jazz rock band If. It was released in 1970 on the Island Records label in the UK and Capitol Records in the US. The album features the early use of Innovex Reed Sound Modulators for the saxophones ...

'' (1970) *''

If 3 ''If 3'' is the third release by the English jazz rock band If. It was released in August 1971 by United Artists Records (U.K.) and Capitol Records (U.S.) and reached #171 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Albums Chart.Chart information courtesy of Bill ...

'' (1971) *''

If 4 ''If 4'' is the fourth album released by the English jazz rock band If. It was first issued in 1972 and the last album to feature the original recording line-up. Capitol Records, the band's U.S. label, declined to issue this fourth album. Most ...

'' (1972) *''

Waterfall A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in seve ...

'' (1972) *'' Double Diamond'' (1973) *'' Not Just Another Bunch of Pretty Faces'' – ''If'' (1974) *'' Tea Break Over, Back on Your 'Eads'' – ''If'' (1974)

With Morrissey–Mullen

*''Up'' – ( Embryo Records, 1976) *''Cape Wrath'' – 1979 *'' Badness'' – 1981 *'' Life on the Wire'' – 1982 *'' It's About Time'' – 1983 *'' This Must Be the Place'' – 1985 *''Happy Hour'' – 1988 *''Everything Must Change: The Definitive Collection'' – 2003

Collaborations

*''

What the Dickens! ''What the Dickens!'' is a 1963 recording by Johnny Dankworth, accompanied by his orchestra and guests, some of the leading UK jazz musicians of the day. It is a suite based on characters and scenarios associated with Charles Dickens. It was rec ...

'' –

and his Orchestra (1963) *''Roy Budd'' –

(1965) *''Presenting the

Big Band'' (January 1966) *''

Sound Venture ''Sound Venture'' is a jazz album recorded by Georgie Fame and the Harry South Big Band in 1966. Featuring many of Britain's top jazz musicians, and arranged by big band arranger Harry South, it marked a departure from Fame's R&B hits with the B ...

'' –

and the Harry South Big Band (October 1966) *''Acropolis'' – Ian Hamer Sextet (live 1966) *''Two Faces of Fame'' – Georgie Fame (1967) *''Retrospect Through 21 Years of BBC Jazz Club'' – Various Artists (1968) *'' The Greatest Little Soul Band in the Land'' – J. J. Jackson (1969) *''

J. J. Jackson's Dilemma ''J.J. Jackson's Dilemma'' is the fourth album by J. J. Jackson and his second recorded in the UK. History and critical reception The album was recorded in London in 1970 with many of the same musicians who had performed with Jackson on his 19 ...

'' (1970) *''

To Seek a New Home ''To Seek a New Home'' is an album by American organist Brother Jack McDuff recorded in England in 1970 and released on the Blue Note label.

'' –

(1970) *''Whitehorn'' –

Geoff Whitehorn Geoffrey Charles Whitehorn (born 29 August 1951) is a guitarist and singer-songwriter, who has played as a member of If, Crawler and Procol Harum. History In August 1973, Whitehorn joined the pioneering British jazz-rock band, If, in what ...

(1974) *''Worlds Collide'' –

Hudson Ford Hudson Ford were an English rock band, formed when John Ford and Richard Hudson left Strawbs in 1973. The original line-up featured Hudson (now playing guitar instead of drums) and Ford along with Chris Parren on keyboards, Mickey Keen on guit ...

(1975) *''

Don't Get Around Much Anymore – Live at Bullerbyn ''Don't Get Around Much Anymore – Live at Bullerbyn'' is a live 1975 jazz recording of a two-evening jam session at the Bullerbyn jazz club, Stockholm, Sweden. It features two Duke Ellington compositions, including the title track, in tribute to ...

'' (live 1975) *''

The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux ''The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux'' is a live recording made at the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival. It featured the Don Ellis Orchestra together with the Average White Band and guest musicians. It was originally released as a double album on G ...

'' – (live 1977) *''

A Pauper in Paradise ''A Pauper in Paradise'' is the fifth studio album by Italian-Canadian singer Gino Vannelli, released in 1977. It was notable for including contributions by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on the second side, including a fifteen-minute title tra ...

'' –

Gino Vannelli Gino Vannelli (born June 16, 1952) is a Canadian rock singer and songwriter who had several hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s. His best-known singles include " People Gotta Move" (1974), " I Just Wanna Stop" (1978), " Living Inside Myself" (1981) ...

(1977) *'' The Party Album'' –

(live 1978) *''It's Just a Lifetime'' – Craig Nuttycombe (1978) *''Just Easy'' –

(1978) *''Ravenna'' – Kim Diamond (1979) *''That's What Friends Are For'' –

and the Blue Flames (1979) *''Liner'' –

Liner Liner or LINER may refer to: Line drawing * Eye liner, a type of makeup * Marker pen, a porous-tip pen with its own ink source * Multiple lining tool used in engraving * A sable brush used by coach painters Linings * Acoustic liner, a no ...

(1979) *''White Trails'' –

Chris Rainbow Christopher James Harley, known by the stage name Chris Rainbow (18 November 1946 – 22 February 2015), was a Scottish pop rock singer and musician whose songs "Give Me What I Cry For" and "Solid State Brain" were often played by British radio ...

(1979) *''Streets of Fire'' –

Duncan Browne Duncan John Browne (25 March 1947 – 28 May 1993) was an English singer-songwriter and musician. His debut album, '' Give Me Take You'', was released by Immediate Records in 1968. Its 1973 follow-up, '' Duncan Browne'', spawned a minor UK hit ...

(1979) *''Lost in Austin'' –

Marc Benno Marc Benno (born July 1, 1947 in Dallas, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Benno teamed with Leon Russell to form the Asylum Choir in the late 1960s. He launched a solo career in the early 1970s, with the 1972 album ''Amb ...

(1979) *'' Peter Gabriel (III)'' – aka ''Melt'' –

(1980) *''Alexis Korner and Friends'' (1980) *"Strawberry Letter 23" – Bunny Brown (1980) *'' Song of Seven'' –

(1980) *''Mr Money'' –

(1980) *''Wonderin – Rollercoaster (1980) *''Live in Sheffield 1980'' –

/ New Life Band (recorded live December 1980 – released 2007) *''Honky'' –

Keith Emerson Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 194411 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He be ...

(1981) *''

The Friends of Mr Cairo ''The Friends of Mr Cairo'' is the second album by Jon and Vangelis, released in July 1981. A second edition of the album, released in January 1982, includes the single " I'll Find My Way Home", which according to Anderson was added in respons ...

'' –

(1981) *''

'' –

(1981) *''Compare me with the rest'' – Ronny/

(1981) maxi single *'' Land of Cockayne'' –

Soft Machine Soft Machine are an English Rock music, rock band from Canterbury, Kent. The band were formed in 1966 by Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin. Soft Machine were central in the Canterbury scene; they became o ...

(1981) *''Gone with the Wind (single)'' – Diamond Edge (1981) *''Love Theme'' from movie ''

'' –

(1982) (Dick's last name is misspelled in the CD credits as "Morrisey") *'' Night Birds'' –

(1982) *''

Animation Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animati ...

'' –

(1982) *" Rip It Up (single)" –

(1982) *''Ride Blue Divide'' –

Sniff 'n' the Tears Sniff 'n' the Tears are a British rock band best known for their 1978 song "Driver's Seat", a moderate hit in many countries (including No. 15 on the American ''Billboard'' Hot 100) (in September 1979). The band is led by singer/songwriter Pau ...

(1982) *'' Now Then...'' –

Stiff Little Fingers Stiff Little Fingers are a Northern Irish punk rock band from Belfast. They formed in 1977 at the height of the Troubles, which informed much of their songwriting. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star (named after the Deep P ...

(1982) *''

Work of Heart ''Work of Heart'' is the 11th studio album by English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Roy Harper and was first released in 1982. History The original album was released on Harper's own label, Public Records, formed with Mark Thomp ...

'' – Roy Harper (1982) *''

Private Collection A private collection is a privately owned collection of works (usually artworks) or valuable items. In a museum or art gallery context, the term signifies that a certain work is not owned by that institution, but is on loan from an individual ...

'' –

(1983) *''

Warriors A warrior is a guardian specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracy, class, or caste. History Warriors seem to have been p ...

'' –

(1983) *''Sirens'' –

John Themis John Themis is an Australian-born musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his long-term work with Boy George and Culture Club, collaborating on many of their songs and albums since the 1990s. He also worked on ''Taboo'', a musi ...

(1983) *''

Give My Regards to Broad Street ''Give My Regards to Broad Street'' is the fifth solo studio album by Paul McCartney and the soundtrack to the Give My Regards to Broad Street (film), film of the same name. It features covers of Beatles' songs, Paul McCartney and Wings, Wings ...

'' –

*''

Reflection Reflection or reflexion may refer to: Science and technology * Reflection (physics), a common wave phenomenon ** Specular reflection, mirror-like reflection of waves from a surface *** Mirror image, a reflection in a mirror or in water ** Diffuse r ...

'' –

(1984) *''Brass Impact'' (1984) *'' Double Crossed'' – Jim Diamond (1985) *"My Heart Knows" –

Maxine Nightingale Maxine Nightingale (born 2 November 1952) is a British R&B and soul music singer. She is best known for singing hits in the 1970s, with the million seller " Right Back Where We Started From" (1975, UK #8 & 1976, U.S. #2), "Love Hit Me" (1977 ...

(1985) *''Famous People'' – Bill Sharpe (1985) *'' The Fury'' –

(1985) *''Invitation'' –

(1985) *''

Press to Play ''Press to Play'' is the sixth solo studio album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 25 August 1986. It was McCartney's first album of entirely new music since '' Pipes of Peace'' in 1983, and his first solo album to be issued interna ...

'' –

(1986) *'' Animal Magic'' –

The Blow Monkeys The Blow Monkeys are a British pop band formed in 1981. Their first single, "Live Today Love Tomorrow", was released in 1982. They subsequently enjoyed a successful career with several hit singles and albums throughout the 1980s before split ...

(1986) *''

Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine ''Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine'' is the second solo album by American singer-songwriter Daryl Hall, released in 1986. The album features his only top-ten solo single, "Dreamtime", which peaked at number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot ...

'' (1986) –

Daryl Hall Daryl Franklin Hohl (born October 11, 1946), known professionally as Daryl Hall, is an American rock, R&B, and soul singer. He is best known as the co-founder and principal lead vocalist of Hall & Oates, with guitarist and songwriter John Oa ...

*''On a Blue Wing'' –

Bill Nelson Clarence William Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician, attorney, and former astronaut who served from 2001 to 2019 as a United States Senate, United States senator from Florida and from 2021 to 2025 as the Administrator ...

(1986) *''

Strange Charm ''Strange Charm'' is the eighth solo studio album by the English musician Gary Numan, originally released in October 1986, it was Numan's third release on his self-owned Numa Records label. The album was not released in the United States until ...

'' –

(1986) *''City Walls'' –

(1987) *''Face to Face'' –

Barclay James Harvest Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band, which following a split in 1998 now exists as two successor bands. They were founded in Oldham, in September 1966 by bassist/vocalist Les Holroyd (born 1948), guitarist/vocalist John ...

(1987) *''

Live at the Bull – Tribute Vols. 1–2 ''Live at the Bull – Tribute Vols. 1–2'' is a 2-CD tribute album released in 2007 featuring tenor saxophonists Dick Morrissey and Spike Robinson accompanied by Bill Le Sage, Bill Eyden, Alec Dankworth, John Pearce, and Simon Morton. It was re ...

'' (recorded live 1987/8 – released 2007) with

*''

Confessions of a Pop Group ''Confessions of a Pop Group'' is the fourth full-length studio album by English sophisti-pop band the Style Council, released 20 June 1988 by Polydor. After the critical failure of ''The Cost of Loving'' (1987), tensions between Polydor and le ...

'' –

The Style Council The Style Council were an English pop band formed in Woking in 1982 by Paul Weller, the former lead vocalist, principal songwriter and guitarist with the rock band the Jam, and keyboardist Mick Talbot, previously a member of Dexys Midnight Ru ...

(1988) *''

Metal Rhythm ''Metal Rhythm'' is the ninth solo studio album by the English musician Gary Numan, released in September 1988 by I.R.S. Records. Overview Gary Numan's previous three studio albums had been released on his own record label, Numa Records. The d ...

'' –

(1988) *''A New World (album)'' – Sonia King (1988) *''Old Angel Midnight'' – Jackson Sloan (1989) *''Mastercrime'' –

Zeke Manyika Zeke Manyika (born 23 February 1955 in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) is a drummer, vocalist and songwriter. Career Manyika was born in Zimbabwe, but has lived in Britain for most of his life. From 1982 to 1984, he was a member of t ...

(1989) *''Changes'' –

(1989) *''The Lady from Savannah'' –

Irene Reid Irene Reid (September 23, 1930 – January 5, 2008) was an American jazz singer. Early life Reid was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She sang in church and in high school in Georgia, and moved to New York City in 1947 after her mother d ...

(1989) Birdland MC589 *'' Cookin''' –

(live 1989) *''Shout For Joy'' –

Neville Dickie Neville Dickie (born 1 January 1937 in Durham) is an English boogie-woogie and stride piano player. He has performed all over Europe and North America. Career After serving in the RAF, Dickie left Durham and moved to London, where he began play ...

and His Rhythm Kings (live 1989) *''

Tippin' the Scales ''Tippin' the Scales'' is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean. It was originally recorded in 1962, but was first released only in 1979 on the Japanese Blue Note label as GXF 3062, then finally released in the U.S. in 1984 as BST 84427. ...

'' – Perfect Pitch (live 1989) *'' Super Jam'' – (Villa Fantastica) – with

(live 1989) *''Daddy and the Steamers'' –

(live 1990) *''Shaking the Tree'' –

(1990) *''Portraits (The Music of Harry South)'' – NYJO (1990) as a guest, along with

Ronnie Ross Albert Ronald Ross (2 October 1933 – 12 December 1991) was a British jazz baritone saxophonist. Life Born in Calcutta, India, to Scottish parents, Ross moved to England in 1946 and was educated at the Perse School in Cambridge. He began ...

*'' Swinging Hollywood'' –

(1991) *'' Outland'' –

(1991) *''Skyline'' –

(1993) *''Good Times & the Blues'' – Mike Carr (live 1993) *''

Right-On Charly Antolini (born 24 May 1937) is a Swiss jazz drummer. Career Born in Zürich, Antolini started playing the traditional Swiss Basler drum. In 1956, he went to Paris, where he played with Sidney Bechet and Bill Coleman. He joined the Tre ...

'' –

(live 1993) *'' Superblues'' –

(1994)

References

External links

Dick Morrissey
at

Artist Direct Artistdirect (stylized as ARTISTdirect) is an American online digital media entertainment company. Overview Founded in 1996, it owns several websites, including artistdirect.com and artistdirectinterviews.com. These websites are a group of affi ...

*
Dick Morrissey
obituary in "The Last Post"

collected obituaries and tributes {{DEFAULTSORT:Morrissey, Dick 1940 births 2000 deaths English jazz composers British male jazz composers English male composers English jazz tenor saxophonists British male saxophonists Bebop saxophonists Hard bop saxophonists Post-bop saxophonists Soul-jazz saxophonists Mainstream jazz saxophonists Jazz fusion saxophonists English session musicians People from Deal, Kent People from Horley Deaths from cancer in England Musicians from Kent 20th-century British classical musicians 20th-century English composers 20th-century British saxophonists If (band) members 20th-century British male musicians Morrissey–Mullen members 20th-century British jazz composers