Sterling Morrison

At 53 years old, Sterling Morrison physical status not available right now. We will update Sterling Morrison's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr. (August 29, 1942 – August 30, 1995) was an American guitarist, best known as one of the Velvet Underground's founding members, often playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and occasionally singing backing vocals. Lou Reed, John Cale, Mauen Tucker, and Nico Morrison never released a solo album or released recordings under his own name, but he was nevertheless an important part of the band's sound, from Reed's experimental guitar style to Reed's experimental guitar style.

Early years

Morrison was born in East Meadow, New York, on August 29, 1942. He had two brothers and two sisters. When he was young and his mother remarried, his parents divorced him. Maureen Tucker was first introduced to future Velvet Underground drummer Maureen Tucker during his youth by her brother Jim, who attended Division Avenue High School in Levittown, New York, with Morrison. Morrison switched to guitar after his teacher was drafted, and he returned to trumpet.

Morrison majored in English at the City College of New York. Lou Reed, a friend of Tucker and a fellow English student, met him while visiting his friend Jim Tucker at Syracuse University. They met again in New York City in 1963, before Reed graduated in 1964. Reed had seen John Cale by now and was keen on starting a band, so when they met Morrison, he was invited to join.

The original line-up of the Velvet Underground was composed of Reed, Cale, Morrison, and percussionist Angus MacLise, who took the name from Michael Leigh's sadomasochistic book of the same name. Reed sang and played guitar, Morrison played guitar, Cale played viola, bass, and keyboards, and MacLise was playing bongos, hand drums, tabla, tambourines, and the cimbalom. Maureen Tucker replaced MacLise shortly.

Morrison played guitar on the band's first two albums, but Morrison played viola or keyboards in the studio or on stage. Reed and Morrison were on their standard guitars on certain songs (including "Heroin" and "Sister Ray"), but Cale played viola and Vox Continental organ respectively, with no bass guitar.

Cale performed both piano and bass on guitars on several albums, including "I'm Waiting for the Man," "Femme Fatale," "Memme Fatale," and "White Light/White Heat" and two songs in which Cale performed both viola and bass with Reed and Morrison on guitars, the former of which saw Cale double on piano and bass, as well as "Cale's Death Song" and "The Black Angel's Death Song" and "Black Angel' Despite Morrison's success as a bassist (as exemplified by his appearances on "Sunday Morning," "Venus in Furs," "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "Lady Godiva's Operation"), he disliked playing the instrument.

Morrison played guitar for the majority of Cale's career in 1968; however, photographic evidence shows he continued to play bass onstage for those songs even if Doug Yule, Cale's replacement, was occupied with organ. In addition, Morrison performed backing vocals and the occasional lead vocal spot (he recited many lines of Reed's poetry in "The Murder Mystery" and performed one line "I'm Sticking With You").

Morrison has stated consistently that "Venus in Furs," the band's debut album, was his personal favorite of all of The Velvet Underground's songs, to a greater degree than any other, the band had in mind.

Morrison seized the opportunity to complete his undergraduate degree at City College of New York in 1970, when the band returned to New York City for the entire summer's service at Max's Kansas City. After Reed left the band in August 1970 under traumatic circumstances, he stayed in the Velvet Underground as lead guitarist. However, he began graduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin, where he would earn a PhD in medieval literature (with a dissertation on Cynewulf's four signed poems in 1986). Morrison's last appearance with the band was on August 21, 1971, at Liberty Hall (Houston, Texas). Morrison carried an empty suitcase and led them to the airport gate before advising them that he was staying in Texas and leaving the band, the band's last founding member to leave.

Morrison began working on tugboats in the mid-1970s to supplement his income; when he was compelled to relinquish his teaching assistantship some years later, he became a master mariner and became the captain of a Houston tugboat, a profession he pursued throughout the 1980s.

Morrison's musical career after leaving the Velvet Underground, was mostly limited to informal sessions for personal enjoyment, though he appeared in a few bands around Austin, Texas, most notable the Bizarros. Morrison's time in Austin made him a well-loved and admired member of the local music scene as well as a leading voice. Morrison occasionally sat in with his former bandmate on stages such as the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin during John Cale's revival in the late 1970s. He appeared or performed with Cale, Reed, and specifically Tucker, who had by then embarked on a solo career of her own from the mid-1980s to today. Morrison was a member of her touring band for the majority of the late 1980s and 1990s.

Reed, Cale, Morrison, and Tucker's core Velvet Underground line-up decided to relaunch for a tour and a new album in 1992. Doug Yule, who had replaced Cale in 1968, should have been able to fill the sound, according to Morrison, but Reed and Cale rejected him. In 1993, the band appeared frequently in Europe, either as a headline act or supporting U2. Morrison's playing was solid, and his results were generally good. However, by the end of the tour, friendships had soured again, and plans for a US tour and MTV Unplugged album were scrapped, and as a result, the European tour ended up being the last for the Velvet Underground. Morrison appeared with Maureen Tucker's band on tour in 1994.

Morrison was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 1994 and, as his health worsened, he could no longer play guitar. When Reed and Tucker visited Morrison for the last time, he was bedridden, had lost weight, and his hair, but never complained about his lymphoma.

Morrison died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on August 30, 1995, just one day before his 53rd birthday.

Reed, Cale and Tucker performed "Last Night I Said Goodbye to My Friend," which was dedicated to Morrison upon induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Morrison was commemorated at the Austin Music Awards in March 2001 by a commemoration held at the South by Southwest Festival. With Alejandro Escovedo, who appeared on the Galaxie 500 song "Tugboat" who had written for Morrison, John Cale performed "Some Friends," a song he wrote for Morrison. An SXSW panel on the Sterling enjoyed a productive year, with Cale and others recalling their loved one. In The Austin Chronicle this year, Morrison was also the subject of an oral history, Velvet Underdog. Cale, Reed, Tucker, and other Morrison colleagues' quotes were used in this article.

Morrison's post-Velvet Underground career is represented by the Galaxie 500 song "Tugboat." Morrison had a major influence on Dean Wareham.

Martha Morrison's living family includes his widow, Martha (whom he married in 1971), Thomas, his son, Thomas, and his daughter, Mary Anne, all of whom live in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Post-Velvet Underground life (1971–1990)

Morrison began working as a deckhand on Houston tugboats to supplement his income in the 1970s; when he was forced to relinquish his teaching assistantship a few years later, he became a master mariner and became the captain of a Houston tugboat, a career he pursued throughout the 1980s.

Morrison's musical career was mostly restricted to informal sessions for personal enjoyment after leaving the Velvet Underground, although he appeared in a few bands around Austin, Texas, most notable the Bizarros. Morrison's time in Texas made him a well-loved and respected member of the local music scene as well as a renowned voice. Morrison sat in with his former bandmate on stages such as the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin during John Cale's revival in the late 1970s. He appeared or performed with Cale, Reed, and especially Tucker, who had by then embarked on a solo career of her own from the mid-1980s to mid-1980s. Morrison appeared in her touring band for the majority of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The original Velvet Underground line-up of Reed, Cale, Morrison, and Tucker decided to resurrect for a tour and a potential album in 1992. Doug Yule, who had rescued Cale in 1968, should have been brought to the forefront to balance the tune, but Reed and Cale vetoed him. In 1993, the band toured Europe extensively, either as a headline act or supporting U2; Morrison's playing continued to be strong, and his shows were generally excellent. However, by the end of the tour, personal ties had soured and plans for a US tour and MTV Unplugged album had been cancelled, and as a result, the European tour ended up to be the last for the Velvet Underground. Morrison appeared with Maureen Tucker's band on a tour in 1994.

Morrison was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 1994, and he couldn't play guitar anymore as his health worsened. When Reed and Tucker visited Morrison for the last time, he was bedridden, had lost weight, and his hair, but never complained about his lymphoma, but never complained about it.

Morrison died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on August 30, 1995, the day after his 53rd birthday.

Reed, Cale and Tucker performed "Last Night I Said Goodbye to My Friend," a tribute to Morrison, after induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Morrison was honored at the Austin Music Awards in March 2001 as a guest artist at the South by Southwest Festival. "Some Friends," John Cale's tribute to Morrison, was performed by him alongside Alejandro Escovedo, who performed the Galaxie 500 song "Tugboat" and was also written for Morrison. An SXSW committee on the value of the pound convened that year, with Cale and others remembering their fallen friend. In the Austin Chronicle the year, Morrison was also the subject of an oral history, Velvet Underdog. Cale, Reed, Tucker, and other Morrison associates were used in the story.

Morrison's post-Velvet Underground career is represented in "Tugboat" on Galaxie's album "Tugboat." Morrison had a major influence on Dean Wareham.

Martha Dotson (whom he married in 1971), Thomas' son, Thomas, and his daughter, Mary Anne, are among Morrison's living family, all of whom live in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Personal life

Martha Morrison's living family includes his widow, Martha (whom he married in 1971), Thomas, his son, Thomas, and Mary Anne, all of whom live in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Source