THIS IS A TRIBUTE PAGE TO A LIVING LEGEND!
Chadwick William Morgan was born in Wondai, Queensland on February 11, 1933.
At 19, Morgan was drafted for National Service Training, RAAF Base at Amberley. His colleagues dared him to enter a talent quest; he took the dare and won the Brisbane heat. Being so successful, he was flown down to Sydney to appear on Terry Dear's Amateur Hour, where he also won the semi finals. This prompted EMI to offer Chad a recording contract. "The Sheik of Scrubby Creek". b/w "You Can Have Your Women, I'll Stick To My Booze" was released on the Regal label on October 24, 1952. Later that year Morgan came second in the Amateur Hour grand final. In fair dealing, the "Sheik" was the biggest seller in Australia, outselling international entertainers Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
Morgan's only ambition was to record for the famous Regal Zonophone label, after which he would then return to Scrubby Creek where life went back to normal. He went working the cane fields of Childers, later heading to Rockhampton catching cattle. Returning home for the festive season on his motorbike, he was pushed off the road and rammed into a tree. After spending 14 months in hospital, he returned to Sydney to embark on a career which would make him one of the most popular entertainers of all time.
His unique style of comedy is mimicked by even some of our current, front-line exponents of country music, proving conclusively, the success of his recipe for comedy over generations.
Chad's songs, like My Thrashing Machine, The Fatal Wedding, The Duckinwilla Dance and My Own Grandpa, never fail to gain a full audience reaction, even after being heard many times.
Chad Morgan has appeared in two films: Newsfront and Dimboola.
Tex Morton once described Chad as "the only original country music artist in Australia". EMI has refused to release his older albums onto CD because of a misguided thinking that there is lack of interest.
During the 1987 Country Music Awards, Chad was honoured when added to the Roll Renown, but has never been awarded a 'Golden Guitar'.
In 2004, Morgan was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), for his contribution to Australian Country Music. The following year, Chad recorded a duo with John Williamson. Williamson for years have been imitating "The Sheik" on his own show, and was thrilled when Morgan accepted the offer. The song was "A Country Balladeer", and before the recording Morgan changed two lines. It was also released on DVD, where you can actually see the two of them in the studio. Morgan who's always been out on his own, only ever had two other people record with him as a duo: Eddie Tapp (No Help Wanted, You're A Good Friend, Getting Younger) and Karen Johns (Just The Same).
At the age of 75, Morgan still tours Australia, with his wife Joanie by his side. Morgan's touring partner of 16 years is balladeer Gordon Larkin. The Chad Morgan Show appeals to both young and old with Larkin's country songs combined with The Sheik's unique brand of comedy songs.
SOURCES: Wikipedia, and this Chad Morgan fan page: http://www.chad-morgan.5u.com/
