Pioneering Country Singer Lorrie Morgan Photo Courtesy of Lorrie Morgan – All Rights Reserved
August 3, 2016 – by Elliot Stephen Cohen
Ask veteran country music star Lorrie Morgan her opinion of its
current state, and her answer will be as forthright as her music.
“Oh, country music absolutely sucks right now,” she proclaims. “I hate
it. There’s a few artists that I think will always be awesome, like Alison
Krauss and Miranda Lambert. I don’t even listen to the radio any more. I couldn’t even tell you one Luke Bryan song
or what Bro-country is. I prefer to listen to great Faron Young, Ricky Scaggs,
Keith Whitley, Tracey Lawrence ... people like that.”
Considering her long tradition of keeping the spirit of old-time
country music alive, and especially her pedigree ... being the daughter of
Country Music Hall of Famer, George Morgan, her comments are understandable.
Born Loretta Lynn Morgan on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee, she’s
had a very successful recording career, but is perhaps equally known by her
fans for her well-documented personal life. In addition to relationships with
Kenny Rogers and ex-football star Troy Aikman, her six marriage partners have
included three popular country music singers Sammy Kershaw, Jon Randall and the
legendary Keith Whitley who died in 1989, at age 34, from alcohol poisoning.
Now Morgan has recently released her first new solo album in five
years, Letting Go Slow and is out
touring this summer with fellow singers Joe Diffie and Mark Chessnut.
Elliot Stephen Cohen: Who were some of the first singers you heard on
the radio that really impressed you?
Lorrie Morgan: There were Dionne Warwick, Tammy Wynette, Patsy
Cline... The Supremes really had a big, profound influence on me.
ESC: ... What about the first ones you actually
saw in person?
LM: Well, as a little girl, I went to the (Grand
Ole) Opry every week with my Dad to see these big stars like Barbara Mandrell,
Jeannie Seely, Dottie West and Dolly Parton. They were all a big inspirations
to me.
ESC: Being the youngest performer to ever make her
debut at the Opry, you must have been very nervous playing at such a
prestigious venue.
LM: Oh, at the time, I was only 13, and I didn’t
realize how prestigious it really was. Yes, I was very, very nervous about
performing there. That was where my Dad and all of his friends, who were my
idols, would be by the side of the stage, watching me. I wanted to do a good
job for my Dad. I’m green, and I was a total nervous wreck.
ESC: Did you do anything to calm yourself down.
LM: Well, what I remember doing ... was just
focusing on one spot in the auditorium. I couldn’t bear to look at anybody’s
faces because I was afraid I’d mess up my words and forget them. So, there was
a whole lot going on in a young girl’s mind right there.
ESC: What are you fondest memories of your father?
LM: Oh, my God,
everything was special about him. He always made Christmas special. He
and I did a lot of hanging out together. It seemed like I was his running mate.
I was young girl and me and my brother would go out fishing with him. He was
just the picture of a perfect Dad, husband –cornerstone of the family.
ESC: Losing your father at 16 must have been very
traumatic.
LM: It was very traumatic. I think it really
affected me more than I realized it did. He was the love of my life. You know,
every little girl loves her daddy, but he always made everyone feel special in
his presence. He was the one who made you feel you weren’t the awkward kid. He
was just the best.
ESC: ... and what a great artist.
LM: Oh, he was. You know, my Dad was the first
country artist in Nashville to record with a symphony orchestra. He did a beautiful
album called Golden Memories which is
just him and an orchestra, singing Irish songs. He really loved Irish songs,
and it’s one of his most beautiful pieces of work. That was really the kind of
music my Dad was meant to sing, and it really shows off his incredible vocal
talent.
ESC: Let’s talk about your new album. You’ve been
reunited with your former producer, Richard Landis.
LM: It’s just come true for me. There’s nothing
like working with Richard. He’s truly one of the greatest producers I’ve ever
had the pleasure of working with. I truly believe he’s a modern-day genius,
like a Mozart. He’s had a heart attack, and I just want to say, “God bless his
soul.” We’re all praying for a fast recovery.
ESC: On the album, you do Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode To
Billie Joe.”
LM: I’ve always been a big fan of hers. She’s
always been one of my idols since I was a little girl. I’ve always wanted to
meet her, but she’s become kind-of a recluse. I was still a little girl when
the movie about the song came out.
ESC: Why did you choose such an iconic song to
cover. Did you think you could do it better?
LM: No, I never thought I could outdo the original.
I love Bobbie Gentry. It’s just my tribute to her. It’s just my way of saying, “Man,
I’ve loved this song for a long time. I think it’s cool, and I’m gonna do it.“
ESC: For over 50 years, people have been speculating
what the two main characters in the song were throwing off the Tallahatchie
Bridge. What do you think it might have been?
LM: Probably pot. (Laughs.) No, I’m just kidding.
That was a joke. I have no idea. I’ve always thought it was a baby, or it could
have been one of her baby dolls. She grew up that summer... They made love ...
I just don’t know.
ESC: You also cover Patsy Cline’s “Strange.” Why did
you that particular song of hers?
LM: Well, I love Patsy, but it’s also really hard
to do a Patsy song because people compare you to her. It’s just my tribute to
her, but the main reason for my doing “Strange” was not because of Pasty, but
because of Mel Tillis who wrote the song. I love his songwriting, and that’s
one of my favorites of his.
ESC: If Patsy were alive today, and you could speak
to her, what you say?
LM: How do you think I’m doin’ ... as both a
singer and an artist.
ESC: Did you pick the song “I’ve Done Enough Dying
Today” because the theme is autobiographical in many ways to your life?
LM: Yes, absolutely. Almost all of the songs I
chose for the album are autobiographical.
ESC: Would you say that all of the things you’ve
experienced, like losing our Dad and your husband, Keith Whitley ... both
at a relatively young age, has had a profound effect on your singing?
LM: Definitely. You know the pain of losing them
and other people I’ve lost will never go away. Real pain like that puts a hole
in your stomach that never really fills up. There’s a hole in your heart that
can’t be filled up either. It’s a real deep rooted sadness. My pain comes
across in my music. It’s true pain. It’s hurt, and it’s deep. My music is my
therapy and helps me survive. It’s my best friend, whether I’m singing it or
just listening to it.
ESC: As someone who has been recording for a long
time, how do you feel about some of the younger singers who use things like
Auto-Tune, both in the studio and also actually in concert?
LM: To me, that’s one of the worst things any performer
has ever done. I can remember working with one particular artist, and every
time we worked together, because I was such a fan, I would be at the side of
the stage, but when they’d start singing, I’d be like, “Oh, my God. How awful
that sounds!” Then the next time we worked, I thought, “How great that is!.
Woa, somebody found Auto-Tuning!” I don’t think that’s fair. People like Vern
Gosdin, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings never used that crap. You
know, sometimes a little bit of imperfection is what makes country music
perfect. I mean, who wants to listen to a machine? I don’t. I think it’s BS.
ESC: How vital do you think your looks and sex
appeal has been to your success, and have you ever gotten flack from some of
your record labels over your sexy album covers?
LM: Oh, heavens, yes. One of them once called in my
manager, who was a female, and said, “Lorrie has got to cover up her breasts.“
My manager pulled her shirt wide open and said, “You want me to talk to her
about that?” I believe a woman should be a allowed to be sexy and pretty. I
went against the grain long before Shania Twain came on the scene. There’s also
a different kind of beauty that you have to focus on when you get older. Things
change and things shift, but I still believe I’m at a great place at my age. I’ve
been very fortunate that God blessed me with some good genes.
ESC: I understand you’re a very committed dog lover.
LM: One of my dogs is a rescue, and the other one
was given to me by a friend. This is another story but, not that long ago, my
band and I were in Wisconsin. As our bus was pulling in, I noticed this street
bum with a little Chihuahua on a leash. He picked up the dog and threw it down
the street. I got out of the bus and said, “Did you just throw that dog?” He
said, “No.” If I see anyone mistreating a dog, I’m gonna take it.
ESC: So, did you take the dog?
LM: Well, what happened was: one of my guys and my
son run around this building where the guy was. He was so gross and drunk and
said, “I’ll give you the dog for $200.“ I said, “I’ll take the dog for $20,”
and he said, “OK.” So we adopted the dog right there. He now lives with my
guitar player and goes to all his recording sessions. The dog’s name is Petey.
He takes A bath and has a diamond collar. He’s just the happiest little dog you’ve
ever seen in your life. I mean, this dog really hit the big time. He’s a part
of our country music family now.
ESC: So, what is your opinion of our two presumptive
presidential candidates?
LM: I’m going to be very honest with you... All I
can say is, “Go, Donald!”
ESC: Because ...
LM: Because we need a change, and somebody who’s
not a politician and not worried about being “politically correct,” who doesn’t
have to have Congress in his back pocket. I’ve been very disappointed in this
current administration. I’ve always backed all of our presidents, whether they’re
Democrat or Republican, but this one I’ve had a very hard time with. My belief
is that he is guy to best run this country and know how to get workers back to
work and for America to be successful ... that’s why I’m for
Donald Trump all the way.
ESC: From your long career, what have been you
proudest accomplishment?
LM: Well, being made a member of The Grand Old Opry
is the ultimate because that’s where I was raised and always dreamed about. I
guess, second would be recording with so many of my idols like the Beach Boys,
Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams ... I mean, as a child, I
could never have even dreamed of that happening, or even prayed for.
ESC: How important has your religious faith been to
you?
LM: I’m a very religious person. I was raised Roman
Catholic. I’m a rosary girl and I’m very much a believer in God but, even if I
wasn’t, my spiritual side has given me the view that we have to be grateful for
every morning we get to look at.
©
2016 – Elliot Stephen Cohen – All Rights Reserved
