Early years 1930-1957 (5 of 7)

A Record Contract

Progress into the music business was  difficult and competitive but his real ambition was to write and arrange music. His performing days in the variety halls no doubt stood him well for getting him into the song  writing business from 1958

Prior to his move to London he came there for a holiday in 1956. He brought with him a collection of his compositions with the aim of impressing the music publishers but without success. In despondent mood he was in a basement club in Tin Pan Alley (Denmark Street) where he met some songwriters. One of them suggested  he spoke to a  publicist called Fraser White who was in the club (He wac connected with Mario Lanzas rise to fame in Hollywood). He was however not interested in his compositions or powers as a songwriter but agreed to give morgan an audition to hear his piano playing. So impressed was he that he put his act on disc immediately. He was renamed Thunderclap Jones (this is from the thunderclap that starts Hurricane Boogie) and given a 3 year contract with Oriole Records.

The three records made by Oriole 1956/7

Click the links to play