Homicide, Substance abuse, Infidelity-The tragic life of legendary jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan

In his short but eventful life, jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan rocketed to the highest echelons of jazz in double-quick time - playing with Art Blakey and the jazz messengers as a teenager and recording with John Coltrane, then the unthinkable happened.
Onetrackjazz channel: / @onetrackjazz
#leemorgan #jazztrumpeter #jazz #leemorganbiography #jazzmessengers #artblakey #johncoltrane #deathofleemorgan #famousjazzmusician #sidewinder #murderstory #jazz #gigolo

[@nyvcr502]

Your account is accurate. Helen did a documentary. “I Called Him Morgan “. Bassist Larry Ridley was very angry about Helen shooting Lee but when he ran into her on the street in New York after she got out of prison she cried to Larry an said she didn’t mean to shoot Lee Morgan so all the anger that Larry felt towards her drained out of his body and he forgave her. Bassist Jymie Merritt went back to Philadelphia after Lee’s death and never appeared on jazz albums again as far as I know. I became disillusioned with the jazz life and I quit playing for many years but I miss the jazz life and all the fun of playing with good musicians

[@14u142]

A lot of people don't know this fact about Lee Morgan and his recording sidewinder. Lee Morgan asked Larry Ridley's Trumpet playing brother Mike Ridley to borrow his silver Conn trumpet for the recording of sidewinder and cornbread albums. Lee Morgan didn't own a decent horn at the time, so he asked Larry Ridley's brother Mike could he use his Horn on the recordings. Mike Ridley spoke of how he had to attend the recording sessions to insure that he would get his Horn back after the recordings.

[@patrickreninger5044]

His solo on Moanin is one my favorites of all time..Such a tragic story.

[@pedrosanz4100]

This documentary is truly exceptional. Before watching it, I had no knowledge of Lee Morgan's life, which I found both profoundly sad and startling. One of my all-time favorite tracks is 'The Sidewinder.' It's my go-to song in the car for lifting my spirits and sparking creativity. The person who introduced me to Lee Morgan's genius was Mulgrew Miller: I vividly recall his lecture to a group of students, available on KZbin, where he emphasized the importance of listening to 'the right' musicians for developing a jazz language. He notably mentioned Lee Morgan, along with JJ Johnson and Kai Winding for trombone, Hank Mobley for tenor sax, and Sonny Stitt for alto sax. It would be incredible to see a video dedicated to Mulgrew Miller. Your channel's work is commendable, and a video on Mulgrew would be a fantastic addition. Congratulations!

[@jerrychetty2524]

Yes and the Mobley/Morgan collaboration, "peckin time", is an excellent record

[@lordeldauoud142]

The lake great Lee Morgan blew me away on Lonnie Smith son of ice bag. Think LP and his Caramba LP. Cemented my admiration for him CARAMBA Lee Morgan rest in power rest in peace bless you.

[@ronrobbins2737]

Great documentary thanks! Lee was my biggest influence as a kid, with that soulful funky personal style all his own. I have that SIDEWiNDER vinyl proudly to this day. If only his record label had taken more care of him during that drug decline. And what a tragic untimely death for this young jazz-trumpet prodigy.

[@edwardhall184]

I remember as a young man my uncle telling me he was at the club when Morgan was actually shot by Helen… my uncle stated he ran out of the club with the other patrons and slipped on the icy sidewalk and fell, tearing a hole in the pants to a brand new suit he was wearing…. Surely miss those stories…. Rest In Power Uncle Clarence 🙏🏽👍🏽✊🏽🎺

[@raepaul8158]

What a tragic life , I have and will always love his playing !

[@nyvcr502]

Lee Morgan was awesome. I had the privilege of sitting on the front row at the Lighthouse in Hermosa beach one night and my little table was so close to the bandstand that he sat his drink on my table

[@clouddog2393]

The "Sidewinder" got me into Jazz and was the first Jazz album l brought . Lee is my all time favourite trumpet player and he's album "The Rajah" one of my favourite albums . One of the greats and the Blue Note albums classics .

[@tedallenwolff]

fascinating, just fascinating. This channel has the most in depth stories of really important musicians. So important!

[@davidbaise5137]

Thanks for this! If interested, find and watch a doc called “I Called Him Morgan”, an oral history from Helen’s POV.

[@jerrychetty2524]

I asked you for this Alexander and you delivered, thank you! Such a great talent was Lee Morgan and to end up so tragically is heartbreaking really. I listen to his music every day and the documentary "I called him Morgan is very good

[@bmuhamad]

Freddie Hubbard's "The Night of The Cookers" is my favorite.

[@bandicoot5412]

Great artist

[@edwinrivera5695]

Lee Morgan was a true talent and an unfortunate tragic loss. Thanks for posting! All the best from the Caribbean 🌴

[@benwinstanleymusic]

Great video thank you. It’s shocking to find out the backstories behind some of my favourite albums, really quite sad

[@juanvalentin3302]

He is truly one of my favorites which coincidentally and unfortunately was dealt the same path in life as some of my other favorite JAZZ HEROES like Sonny Clark and Tina Brooks, LORD knows how much more they would have shaped the only TRUE AMERICAN ART FORM had they were allowed to be around a lot longer than they were. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAD but I'm grateful we had them here when we did-TRUE TALENTS!

[@toreckman8899]

I thank you for your music sir. I listen to Art Blakeys channel every night and you are always featured. A sad story Hopefully you’re resting in peace.

[@vanguardcycle]

one of the best to ever do it. full stop. Absolutions is such an incredibly deep and heartbreaking track. RIP 'Morgan'

[@risboturbide9396]

I just discovered your channel today; your voice is truly magical! I hope you'll do a video about the great Eric Dolphy. Cheers! 🍻🍻

[@waynshor7073]

Beautiful vidéo as usual!Thanks so much.....

[@jennifertate4397]

Fascinating story. Thank you.

[@kevinsplinter8595]

Cool. Thanks For sharing.

[@casimir9185]

Thank you for the awesome vid. Lee is my favorite

[@lorenzoolorenzao2780]

another masterpiece,thanks for that!

[@nyvcr502]

Drummer Ron Jefferson was part of those protests. I knew nothing about that but I was a bassist and played with Ron in informal jazz jams. He called himself Vouzete. a French word that he said meant “we are swing” Vouzete swing. So he said Vouzete meant we are. I remember when I got the sad news of Lee’s death on a Sunday morning in Los Angeles.

[@rightchordleadership]

Lee is one of my favorite trumpeters along with Brownie, Miles, Freddie and Wynton.

[@nyvcr502]

Thanks for sharing

[@newyorknight]

Losing one of the greats🎵🎶🎵🎺 Very good video,thanks for sharing👍

[@luckyramadisha2420]

Gone to soon what a excellent trumpet player

[@paulrodberg]

Excellent

[@stephenlegoabe6074]

Thanks for sharing such a sad story. I wish I could reverse time, a minute before he take drugs. I ask him to start. So as the world would dance from sounds he produced from the trumpet. May his soul rest in peace. God Bless

[@Azman.]

Masterclass cat! Greetings from Jazzman Kuala Lumpur.

[@nyvcr502]

The west coast tour was when I saw him for the last time. It was kind of sad because the club was empty except for my saxophone friend and I were in the club. I noticed a black woman off to side. That had to be Helen.

[@stevegove-humphries7896]

Much enjoy your videos. Thank you. Could I request some links to your detailed researches on your subjects. Clearly you do wide research for these videos. Would love to read some Biographies you have read & sourced for your material. Again , many thanks. I really can not recommend this channel more. The photographs & the production is 1st rate.

[@PabloVestory]

Nice document but why do not use some actual Morgan's music? Monetisasion issues or something?

[@truthadvocatesanonymous7511]

What is the name of the music played in the background and the set leader?

[@onetrackjazz]

I get asked that so often, so I made video with the music I most often use kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4rHmIufj7mgZs0

[@truthadvocatesanonymous7511]

Thank you. Do you know how much I need to pay for using this background music in a non commercial video I am making?@@onetrackjazz

[@user-fg4fr2bz5y]

Only 2 years?!😮

[@svetozarkuzman2924]

Yeah; it's a passion crime hence the manslaughter sentence and not first-degree murder. Though she did have a gun so she may have planned it all the while who knows. But it's obvious she was jealous and she killed him because of that. Morgan really made some bad choices and he had the guts to cheat on a person who got him out of his addiction. Once he got better he was like "I can have it better". I bet that had he lived on he would get back to addiction.

[@nyvcr502]

Howard Rumsey owner of the Lighthouse in Hermosa beach California would not book Art Blakey in his club because he knew that Blakey introduced Lee Morgan to heroin

[@rogerklich9582]

Love the “Live at the Lighthouse” that Lee Morgan did. One of his best.

[@nightrider12soul]

I called him Morgan

[@dickmuzwayine]

Lee's death was a total loss to jazz music. Young and talented.

[@grouchosays]

Sad

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

When eve asked Adam to eat the forbidden fruit…we can understand these behaviors…Romans 10:9-10

[@AstroMoonGoddess]

My uncle is a pretty well-known jazz trumpet player. Jim Dvorak. I’m happy I found your channel! 🫶🏻