Peter-Morgan.org.ukAutobiography

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I  was born in Isleworth, Middlesex in 1951, and have lived in Twickenham, Middlesex with a few short exceptions since 1962. I attended local schools and eventually the now defunct Twickenham Art  School, a part of  Twickenham Technical College, also now closed.

When at Art School my interest and involvement in  music grew, fostered by a wonderful music department at the Technical College. I  played guitar and sang in a blues band until I was tempted to try the bass guitar. I  was instantly at home and have considered myself a bass player ever since. 

I started playing  jazz at this time, encouraged by pianist Colin Wood, then a lecturer at Twickenham Technical College. He now works with Acker Bilk; as he has for the last 30 years. We are still friends and still work together, sometimes with Acker.

I left college a year early, when music became more important to me than art school. I joined a band working the U.S. bases and combined that with all sorts of casual work. I worked in West End nightclubs, did some pop tours and worked on cruise ships including the Q.E.2 and the Canberra.              

I finally took up the double bass in 1980 and my life changed completely. I soon found myself  playing jazz  with many of my heroes and still can't really believe it all. I played with many of the well known Traditional bands including Humphrey Lyttleton, Terry Lightfoot, Acker Bilk, Terry Lightfoot and Keith Nicholls. At the same time I was playing with a lot of the more modern or bop oriented bands and players. I joined the Don Rendell quartet and the Tony Lee trio. Slim Gaillard was living in London and I became a member of his band. Many American musicians were visiting the UK at this time and I was fortunate enough to play with lots of them, including Tal Farlow, Yank Lawson, "Peanuts" Hucko, Benny Carter and Harry "Sweets "Edison.

Since then I have played on several Albums and recorded two C.D's under my own name, Duo and  We Met.

It was a very exciting time for me, I only wish that I had been a better player back then. To see many of the fantastic musicians I  have worked with please click on Selected C.V.  I think I am very lucky; not only is it still an exciting time for me but, I have a wonderful family, great friendships and my job is still my passion.

In recent years I have found that my fascination with visual art has resurfaced. I was inspired initially by seeing my elder son Matthew's work at art college and also by my contact with artists that I have modelled for. Modelling is another story for another time,  but I still model for artists and for art schools and I still gain inspiration from it.

I love making artwork again and am grateful to have what I see as a second chance. I think it is all part of  the same journey. Since 2003 I have documented most  of my creative output in what I call "Cowrie Bay", it is like a filing system. I find it really useful and it gives me more focus. To see some of my work including C.D's and visual art please click on   www.cowriebay.com.                                               

I hope that you will enjoy visiting both this site and the Cowrie Bay site, thanks for looking. 

Before you ask, no I'm not Pete Morgan, the marvellous bass player who worked with Dudley Moore, Roy Budd and Harry Stoneham for some years. Pete is to the best of my knowledge still very active. I am Peter W. Morgan, he is Pete E. Morgan. Confusing isn't it? But I is I and he is he!

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