Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Freddy Morgan Hey Mr. Banjo

Here's something from long ago to make you smile:

It's Freddy Morgan, former member of Spike Jones' Band, and his album from Liberty Records. Freddy was the co-writer of "Hey, Mr. Banjo". Give a listen to it here.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for featuring my Grandfather. I appreciated listening to "Hey Mr. Banjo" again!

Samir Ansari
Freddy Morgan's Grandson from his first marriage.

Anonymous said...

Great Player of the old style on Tenor banjo, Std and Uke. Saw him at his show, St James theatre in Wellington, New Zealand circa 1959-60. Did the full show to a full house, one man , one night, one memory of a lifetime.

pogomom said...

I wish I could get in touch with Samir Ansari, we are cousins. Your Grandfather and Great Uncle Dave were my grandmother's nephews.

Freddy was such an icon to us. I think my mother might still have the "Hey Mr. Banjo" and "She Didn't Even Say Goodbye" sheet music somewhere in her home.

If you check back on here Samir, please get in contact with me.

Anonymous said...

Saw Freddy in 1965 at Kadena AFB Okinawa. First show moderate attendance, Second 1-2 weeks later Airmans club filled to the rafters. Great performance always love the tenor banjo.

Anonymous said...

Freddy Morgan a very good banjo player and Grandfather that I will alway miss! I am Kathy Havelka Grandaughter of Freddy by his daughter Anne Morgan (Ansari-married name now). I will always remember out weekend stay over and Grandpa Freddy would play us some banjo with my brother Samir on his lap. I hope to connect with "Penny" Freddy's daughter with Carolyn. We had good times.
Kathy Havelka

Randy said...

I LOVED HIM WITH THE SPIKE JONES BAND. I JUST NOW FOUND OUT HIS NAME.
GREAT TALENT..
RANDY HAUCK

Morganfan47 said...

Freddy Morgan has always been a great inspiration to me, even though there are very few of my generation who even know who he was. He was a wonderful musician and funny man.

I always wanted to write a biography about him. It wasn't until I found this and saw the comments that I realized he had another wife other than Carolyn. I hope his memory never dies.

John said...

I have only recently discovered and now marvel at the timing,delivery,use of props,expression- all attributes of the wonderful comic genius of Freddy Morgan.
From,John(in Ireland)

Corky said...

Thank you for posting this information regarding my uncle Freddy. I have a picture of my dad (Age 25) and Freddy (age 21). They were in vaudeville together. Wow. Two good looking guys. I have my dad's Weyman banjo. I wish it could talk. (Kirk Morgenstern, Cleveland, OH USA)

Ted Hering said...

This LP contains Freddy's performance of "Cocktails for Two," as a tribute to his former boss. (About the same time, Spike recorded "Hey Mr. Banjo" on his "New Band" LP.)

Freddy also recorded another LP for Liberty, "Banjos on Broadway."

Anonymous said...

He could have been a great clown, comic or musician. Very few people are gifted with three gifts at each of which they were superlative. Freedy Morgan was blessed to be such a man and we are fortunate that through the medium of the internet, we can all enjoy his gifts.

Jacqueline K. talbot said...

My dad Frank Kadish was first cousin to Freddy. He always spoke about all the fun they had. I just wished I had met him. Jacqueline Kadish Talbot