Doug Morter
| Doug Morter | |
|---|---|
 Doug Morter at the Great British R & B Festival, Colne Lancashire (2014) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Douglas William Morter |
| Born | 29 March 1948 Plaistow, London, England |
| Genres | Folk-rock, blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1968– |
| Associated acts |
|
Doug Morter is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He learned guitar whilst at Plaistow Grammar School, early influences being Peter Green and Lightnin' Hopkins. His playing career began whilst a student at Avery Hill College [1]and by the mid-70s he was in demand as a guitarist/vocalist on the bourgeoning folk-rock scene.
Over his career he has toured widely and his body of recorded work, both as a performer and producer, is extensive. In 2010 Acoustic Magazine suggested that even folk-rock fans who did not know the name Doug Morter would almost certainly have heard his playing.[2] He moved to Denmark in 2002
Biography[edit]
Hunter Muskett[edit]
1968-74. There were tours of the UK, the continent and Morocco and two albums.[3] [4] In 2010 the band reformed and two more albums resulted.[5]
Richard Digance[edit]
1974-78 joined Digance as accompanist on vocals and guitar. The duo toured both as a headline act also opening for major names such as: Jethro Tull, Supertramp, Joan Armatrading and Elkie Brooks. Four albums were released in this period.[6]
Michael Chapman Band[edit]
In 1978 joined to tour alongside: Keef Hartley, Rod Clements and Prof. Sutton
Maddy Prior Band[edit]
Joined in 1978 and featured on the album ‘Changing Winds’.[7] This period began his long association with bassist Rick Kemp.
The Albion Band[edit]
1979-1980 recruited by Ashley Hutchings to play alongside: Melanie Harold, Andy Roberts, Martin Simpson, Dave Mattacks, Barry Dransfield, Mike Gregory and Simon Nicol. The band were the subject of a BBC ‘Arena’ documentary (1979).[8] The Albion project culminated with a season at London’s National (Cottesloe) Theatre playing music and subsequently recording an album for the production of Lark Rise to Candleford.[9] The theatre band also included: John Kirkpatrick, Ashley Hutchings, Martin Carthy, John Tams, Bill Caddick, Martin Simpson, Graeme Taylor, Mike Gregory, Brian Protheroe and Howard Evans. 1983-85 rejoined the Albion Band to record two further albums in a line-up now comprising: Ashley Hutchings, Dave Whetstone, Jean Pierre Rasle, Cathy LeSurf, Trevor Foster, and Phil Beer.[10]
Magna Carta[edit]
1979-80 played sessions for the albums: ‘No Truth In The Rumour’ and ‘Midnight Blue’ and in 1980-83 became a full time member with: Chris Simpson, Lee Abbott and George Norris. The band worked extensively across Europe and into North Africa also embarking on two British Council tours to the Middle East (1981 and 83.) A further record ‘Sweet Deceiver’ followed. He reconnected with the band in 2001 to record ‘Seasons in the Tide’ and again in 2009 to play the 40th anniversary farewell concert at the Carre Theatre, Amsterdam. 2015/17 session work on the ‘Fields of Eden’ album was followed by appearances at the Skegness Great British Folk Festival and the Ingersol Festival in Canada.[11]
Jerry Donahue[edit]
In 1980s Morter began a collaboration with renowned US guitarist virtuoso Jerry Donahue. This partnership would bridge various formats for more than 30 years until Donahue’s career was ended by illness in 2016.
The Backroom Boys and Girls[edit]
Originally put together to record a Doug Morter solo album various versions of the band toured over the period 1987-98. Members were drawn from Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention and Hellecasters connections and included: Jerry Donahue, Paul Burgess or Gerry Conway on Drums, Rick Kemp, Alan Thomson, Pete Zorn or Rob Burns on, bass, Fos Paterson on keys and Pete Zorn on sax. There were tours of Germany, Scandinavia and the UK with two records released.[12]
The Nerve - Sandy Denny Tribute[edit]
In 1995 Morter (in the Trevor Lucas role) and Vikki Clayton (as Sandy Denny) toured with the original members of Fotheringay: Jerry Donahue, Pat Donaldson and Gerry Conway as The Nerve. The tour culminated in a performance at the Cropredy festival.[13]
The Gathering[edit]
Billed as ‘Legends of Folk-Rock’ the band formed in 2007 with: Morter, Jerry Donahue, Kristina Donahue, Ray Jackson, Rick Kemp and Clive Bunker.[14] The band was renamed Gathering Britannia to avoid confusion with a US band. In 2009 Morter, Jackson and Donahue toured as a trio: The Acoustic Gathering
Donahue and Morter[edit]
Between band work Donahue and Morter played as a duo, sometimes joined by Danish multi-talent Jens Falck, (for UK and Scandinavian work) and in 2017 by ex Steely Dan man Elliott Randall for a brief tour ending at the Ullapool Guitar Festival. In 2010 the duo recorded the instructional DVD ‘Studio Jam’ in Denmark [15]
Jerry Donahue Benefit Concert[edit]
Tragically Donahue’s playing career was ended in 2016 when he suffered a stroke.[16] In April 2017 Morter and Alan Thomson flew to Los Angeles to visit him in the care facility and also to play at his benefit concert along with: Albert Lee, John Jorgensen, Peter Asher and Freebo.
Then Came The Wheel[edit]
In the 1998 Morter fronted musicians drawn from John Martyn's band: Alan Thomson,Foster Paterson and Arran Ahmun. There were tours in the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Germany with one album released. [17]
Other projects[edit]
Morter and Thomson: occasional tours with bassist Alan Thomson in Scandinavia and the UK. The CD ‘Roadworks’ showcases material by the duo.[18] The Frendz: a Scandinavian project with members drawn from EppuNormaalli, the Finnish stadium rock band. The Norwegian Trio, with Helge Christensen on drums, and Jorun Bøgeberg (formerly of A-ha)
Record Production[edit]
Morter set up Fun Records in 1984 to produce and release his own projects, two of which related to the Albion Band: ‘A Christmas Present from the Albion Band’ (co-produced with Ashley Hutchings)[19] and Cathy LeSurf’s ‘Surface’ which also featured: Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks, Matt Clifford, John O’Connor and Jerry Donahue. [20]
Discography[edit]
Recordings as a band member/soloist
| Band | Title | Label | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Muskett | Every Time You Move | Decca Nova
Cherry Red |
1970
2009 |
|
| Hunter Muskett | Hunter Muskett | Bradleys | 1973 | |
| Hunter Muskett | John Blair | Bradleys | 1973 | Single |
| Hunter Muskett | Bradleys Roadshow Live At The Marquee | Bradleys | 1973 | Two Hunter Muskett tracks |
| Richard Digance | How The West Was Lost | Transatlantic | 1974 | |
| Richard Digance | Treading The Boards | Transatlantic | 1975 | |
| Richard Digance | Live At The Queen Elizabeth Hall | Chrysalis | 1978 | |
| The Albion Band | Lark Rise To Candleford | Charisma | 1980 | National Theatre Production |
| Magna Carta | Sweet Deceiver | Victoria | 1983 | |
| The Albion Band | Under The Rose | Spindrift | 1984 | |
| Doug Morter | Been there, Seen it, & Bought the T.shirt | Fun Records | 1984 | Producer |
| Various Artists | Buttons and Bows (Volume 2) | Dambuster | 1985 | One solo track 'General Taylor' |
| The Albion Band | A Christmas Present From The Albion Band | Fun Records
Making Waves |
1985
2014 |
Credited with final Mix |
| The Backroom Boys And Girls | Brief Encounters | Fun Records
Stormy Turtle Hypertension |
1990
1990 1991 |
|
| The Backroom Boys | Start Up Again | Ribble | 1998 | |
| Then Came The Wheel | I Think I Will Fall | Fun Records | 2005 | |
| The Gathering | Legends Of Folk Rock | Hypertension | 2009 | EP |
| Jerry Donahue and Doug Morter | Studio Jam | Fun Records DK | 2010 | Instructional DVD |
| Gathering Britannia | The Bridge Between | It's About Music | 2011 | |
| Doug Morter & Alan Thomson | Road Works | Fun Records | 2015 | |
| Hunter Muskett | That Was Then This Is Now | Limefield | 2013 | |
| Hunter Muskett | Unafraid And Sober | SPC | 2016 | |
| Magna Carta | The Fields Of Eden | Harvey | 2017 |
Recordings as a session musician
| Band | Title | Label | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Digance | England's Green And Pleasant Land | Transatlantic | 1973 | |
| Raggerty | Borrowed Time | Sweet Folk And Country | 1975 | |
| June Tabor | Ashes And Diamonds | Topic | 1977 | |
| Maddy Prior | Changing Winds | Chrysalis | 1978 | |
| Magna Carta | No Truth In The Rumour | Ariola | 1979 | |
| Magna Carta | Midnight Blue | Polydor | 1982 | |
| Chris Simpson | Sting Of The Gin | Juice | 1982 | Single, Producer |
| Paul Buckley | Paul Buckley? | Fun Records | 1984 | Producer |
| Cathy LeSurfe | Surface | Fun Records | 1985 | Producer |
| Jim Gordon | Dreaming Again | Fun Records | 2000 | Producer |
| Magna Carta | Seasons In The Tide | Gold Circle International | 2001 | |
| Vidar Ruud | Following Dreams | Platekomapaniet NO | 2014 | Producer |
| Jim Gordon | Candle In The Darkness | Fun Records | 2016 | Producer |
References[edit]
- ↑ "Hokey Pokey – newsletter of Richard Thompson and chums no 23 Summer 1991 page 12" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Battersby, Bob Acoustic (April 2010, issue 40) - The Invisible Man Of Folk Rock
- ↑ "Hunter Muskett web-site".
- ↑ French, David Heart Full of Soul - Keith Relf of the Yardbirds (McFarland, 2020) Pages143-145
- ↑ "Music Brainz web-site".
- ↑ "Discogs web-site".
- ↑ "Bright Young Folk web-site".
- ↑ "Arena documentary (BBC 1979) – Youtube see: 03.15/03.35 and 19.52/20.14".
- ↑ "Discogs web-site".
- ↑ "Hokey Pokey – newsletter of Richard Thompson and chums no 23 Summer 1991 page 12" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Magna Carta web-site".
- ↑ "Hokey Pokey – newsletter of Richard Thompson and chums no 23 Summer 1991 page 13" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "FC List web-site, Cropredy Archive".
- ↑ "Sea of Tranquility web-site – album review".
- ↑ "Publicity material, Allie Fox, Vixenrecords, 25 June 2012]".
- ↑ "Lach, Stef (September 12, 2016)".
- ↑ "Discogs website".
- ↑ "Alan Thomson website".
- ↑ "Mainly Norfolk website".
- ↑ "Hokey Pokey – newsletter of Richard Thompson and chums no 23 Summer 1991 page 13" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External Links[edit]
This article "Doug Morter" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Doug Morter. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
