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Pete Morton

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Pete Morton
Born (1964-07-30) 30 July 1964 (age 60)
Leicester, England
GenresUrban folk
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1984–present
LabelsHarbourtown Records, Fellside Records
Websitewww.petemorton.com

Pete Morton (born 30 July 1964) is an English folk singer-songwriter who lives in London, England. According to fRoots, Morton "is amongst the best that the British roots music scene has produced in living memory."[1] Since 2024, Morton has been a 'Performance only artist' proclaiming that 'live gigs' are much more important than anything recorded. He continues to write and tour, adding new material to his Ghost of a Sailor's talking blues show

Biography

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Morton was born in Leicester, England, on 30 July 1964.[2] He attended Countesthorpe Community College He left school at 16 in 1980. It was during this summer that he discovered folk music, when hearing a friend's father playing a Buffy Sainte-Marie record.[3][4] This had a profound effect which led him to buy an acoustic guitar and learn songs from early 60s protest singers.[3]

Morton started busking and visiting folk clubs, travelling around the UK and Europe. He began learning traditional songs as well as writing his own songs mainly of social commentary.[5]

Morton signed to Harbourtown Records in 1987, a label started by Gordon Jones and Bob Thomas of Scottish Folk Band, Silly Wizard. His first album, Frivolous Love was met with high critical acclaim, of which The Guardian called him "a revelation" and was voted the most promising newcomer by FRoots magazine the year after. His second album, One Big Joke (1988), was also positively received and he was referred to in a review by FRoots, as one of the best the British roots scene has produced in living memory.[1]

Throughout the early nineties, Morton toured extensively throughout the US, Canada and Europe, as well as touring with Roger Wilson (fiddle, vocals and Guitar) and Simon Edwards (Button accordion and vocals) . They also toured Pakistan, Malaysia and Singapore for the British Council.

With Courage, love and Grace (1994) Morton brought his songwriting back to public attention, as well as "utilizing his commanding, edgy voice to enhance the power of his songs".[6] He followed this with a collection of traditional songs on the CD, Trespass (1998).[7] Over the next decade Morton continued touring in North America, Europe and Australia, and produced a CD with Jo Freya[8] as well as three more CDs of his own songs: Hunting the Heart (2000),[9] Swarthmoor (2003),[10] and Flying an Unknown Flag (2005).[11]

In 2007, Morton left Harbourtown Records to re-work his most requested songs with the album Napoleon Jukebox (2007),[12] followed a year later with Casa Abierta (2008).[13], a collection of songs in ten different languages, followed by Economy (2011), an album of original songs, produced by Dawson Smith.[3][14]

Morton then performed as the dancer and singer, Geoff Chaucer Junior – a comedy character, performing A Random History of Rock n Roll in Middle English throughout the UK,[15][16] and also as the Master of Ceremonies in Mick Ryan's folk musical Here at the Fair which explores the lives of travelling show people.[17]

With Fellside Recordings Morton produced The Frappin’ and Ramblin’ Pete Morton (2014) which focused on his 'frap' (folk-rap) style, and in 2015, released The Land of Time. On it he creates "contemporary folk songs which aren’t afraid to face up to some of the more pressing issues of our time with wit, intelligence and nuance." It was included in Folk Radio's 15 best albums of 2015.[18] In Game Of Life' (2016) Morton worked with Chester-based band Full House to record a collection of both new songs and new versions of his most popular songs.

His last two albums of self penned songs 'A Golden Thread' (2020) and 'Fair Freedom' (2024) were self-released and co-produced with Paul Yarrow in Leek, Staffordshire. Viewing these two collections of song as his best, and fulfilling what he wished to achieve as a songwriter, Morton no longer records albums, and concentrates on Live performance. Although still continuously writing, new work is included in a Guthriesque talking blues style 'performance only' show that makes every gig unique to the audience. 'The Ghost of a Sailor's Talking Blues' is a combination of storytelling, comedy, singalong and improvisation that sometimes include requests of Morton's best loved songs. https://www.petemorton.com/ghost-of-a-sailor

Discography

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  • Frivolous Love (1987)
  • One Big Joke (1988)
  • Mad World Blues (1992)
  • Courage, Love And Grace (1995)
  • Jo Freya & Pete Morton (1997)
  • Trespass (1998)
  • Hunting The Heart (2000)
  • Another Train: A Selection From Recordings 1987 – 2001 (2001) – compilation CD
  • Swarthmoor (2003)
  • Flying An Unknown Flag (2005)
  • Napoleon Jukebox (2007) – new performances of 17 best known songs
  • Casa Abierta: Ten Songs In Different Tongues, Volume One (2008)
  • Economy (2011)
  • The Frappin' And Ramblin' Pete Morton (2014)
  • The Land Of Time (2015)
  • Game of Life (2015)
  • A Golden Thread (2020)
  • Fair Freedom (2024)


References

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  1. ^ a b Harris, Craig "Pete Morton Biography", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). "Urban Folk". The encyclopedia of popular music (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195313734. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Gore, Will (24 January 2011). "Pete Morton's Economy drive..." Richmond and Twickenham Times. Richmond, London. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Pete Morton – Talkin' Farmers Boy Blues". The Demon Barbers. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  5. ^ "World on Your Street – Musicians' Stories: Pete Morton (1)". BBC Radio 3. 25 June 2004. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Kevin. "A Review of the CD "Courage, Love and Grace" by Pete Morton". Kevin and Maxine's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  7. ^ McCarthy, Kevin. "Pete Morton, Trespass (Harbourtown Records, 1999)". Rambles, a cultural arts magazine. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Pete Morton: Nottingham-born singer-songwriter". Twickfolk. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Pete Morton Hunting The Heart Harbourtown". Rootsworld. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. ^ Beeby, Dave. "PETE MORTON "Swarthmoor" Harbourtown HARCD044". The Living Tradition (review). No. 54. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  11. ^ Kidman, David. "PETE MORTON – Flying An Unknown Flag Harbourtown HARCD. 048". The Living Tradition (review). No. 66. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  12. ^ Ziegler, John (25 September 2008). "Morton's 'Napoleon Jukebox' is folky masterpiece". Duluth Tribune. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Village Folk with Pete Morton". Canal Street Online. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Pete Morton – Economy". Fish Records. 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  15. ^ Dakin, Melanie (1 June 2010). "Pete Morton wants to teach the world to sing in Swahili, Korean and German... (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)". Stalbansreview.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  16. ^ O'Brien, Richard (27 August 2010). "Random History of Rock'n'Roll in Middle English, by Geoff Chaucer Junior". Broadway Baby. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Here At The Fair". Cornwall Folk Festival. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Best Folk Music Albums of 2015 – The Full List". Folk Radio. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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