Howell O. "Morrie" Morrison (1888-1984) and Alice Nadine Morrison (1892-1978) created the Pacific Northwest's first local popular music empire, the Morrison Music Company. The Morrison's business began as a sheet music publication company, capitalizing on the success of Alice's hit songs, the royalties from which provided the company's start-up capital. The sheet music company evolved into a series of family-run business enterprises which included dance studios, instrumental groups, a recording and record manufacturing business, and a film production endeavor, under such names as: Morrison's Marimba Xylophone Orchestra, Morrison's Dancing Academy, Morrie's Musical Comedy Co., and Morrison Music Company, Electronic Recorders and Associates.
Though the Morrison's son Lew and grandson Ken carried on the professional music legacy, the Morrison music empire came to an end after the deaths of Alice and Morrie Morrison in 1978 and 1984.
Information source: HistoryLink.org
Sheet music, recordings, publications and other material produced by or related to the Seattle based Morrison Music Company and the related enterprises of Howell O. "Morrie" and Alice Morrison. The sheet music collection includes many songs written by Alice or Morrie Morrison, published by Morrison Music Co. as well as other publishers; music by other composers published by Morrison Music Co.; and a small file of sheet music by Seattle area and other publishers. The collection also includes several sheets of manuscript music, mostly by Alice, Morrie or Lew Morrison. Dance related publications include two booklets by Morrie Morrison containing practical and theoretical information on dance, as well as several sheets of dance instructions and diagrams and a group of materials about Morrison's "Elysian Phenemona" approach to creativity and dance.
Recordings include various sized discs produced by Morrison Record Co. and other record companies, and sample and blank recording discs from several companies.
Photographs depict Jackie Souder's Orchestra, which recorded on the Morrison label, and the Andrews Sisters, who recorded Alice Nadine Morrison songs.
Arranged in series:
View selections from the collection in
The collection is open to the public by appointment. Advance notice is required to listen to sound recordings.
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Gift of Lew Morrison (Morrie and Alice Morrison's son); received in 1990.
Items related to including Morrison Music Company from accession no. 1993.41 were added to the collection in 2011.
A complete list of the collection's sheet music titles is available in the repository.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Arranged by publisher.
Some of the songs are written by one of the Morrisons and another composer.
Includes the sheet music for Alice Nadine Morrison's "My Love Is All For You," a waltz that became locally popular and was reissued by the Chicago-based sheet music company Forster Publishing (see folder 1/3). The song became a nation-wide hit which eventually sold a half-million copies. Also includes the music for "Love's Ship," which sold a reported one million sheet music copies and was included in the score for the 1920 movie
Consists of sheet music for five Alice Nadine Morrison songs: "Say You'll Be Mine (My Love is All For You)," a reissue for national distribution, "Sweet Anabel," "Orinoco," "Pan American," and "Love's Ship."
Sheet music by miscellaneous composers (excluding the Morrisons) published by companies and individuals in Seattle, Mercer Island and Olympia.
Includes "Playmate of Mine" by Morrie's sister Nellie Morrison, published by Weaver Music in Vancouver, B.C.; and "Chong (He Come From Hong Kong)" by Harold Weeks, published by Leo. Feist Inc., New York.
Manuscript sheet music by Alice, Morrie, and Lew Morrison and others
This volume introduces Morrison's "Newmo--a new motion-a new mode of social dancing"
Sheet music of "authentic Latin music" by Macario Luna with dance instructions on back cover, published by Morrison Music Company
Includes instructions for the "International Dance," the "Gayway," the "Boston Two-Step," the "Spanish Waltz," and the "Pan-American."
One typewritten list of Morrison Records "best pattern dances" and trifold advertisement for Morrison Music Company dance records.
The "Elysian Phenomena" was promoted by Morrie Morrison as "an astounding breakthrough into a world of new conception," which espouses methods "combining, blending and utilizing the forces from Eleven Essential Sensates" to improve life "physically, spiritually and mentally." One the sensates was Movement, expressed through "Elysian Dancing," which purportedly improved and extended the lives of those who practiced it.
Note printed inside front cover: This is the first printing of THE ELYSIAN PLAN there will be other editions.
Arranged by record label or type, then by size
All discs bear the Morrison Record label.
Gene Boscacci Quartet, Dance Tunes (2 discs); Dance Tunes from Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow; also includes covers for "Music for Dancing by Saturday Night Dance Bands" Volumes 1 and 2, with diagram/instructions for dances "Space Shift" and "Dance of Mexico" on versos.
Consists mostly of recordings of music written by Alice or Morrie Morrison, or performed by the Morrison Recording Orchestra, almost all of them dance music identified by dance. Dances include the Hesitation Waltz, fox trot, Shottische, seven-step, polkas, the Gayway, the Toddle, the "amphilula dance" and others. The disc for "Morocco" by Morrie Morrison includes a sheet with dance instructions. Other performers include Art Mineo's Orchestra, Jackie Souders and his Orchestra, Ray "Curley" Johnson and the Western Medley Boys
Recordings of dance music and vocal music. Performers include Art Mineo's Orchestra and the Stan Boreson Trio. Includes a disc with the Alice Nadine Morrison songs "My Love is All For You" and "Love's Ship."
Recordings by the Nordic Rhythm Boys and Bob Harvey and his Orchestra.
"Other Lips" fox trot.
Includes a record by the Ken Morrison Ensemble on the Take Five record label (unknown city), and a "special bi-centennial" recording on the Melophonic Records label (Seattle, 1976).
Aluminum core disc
Aluminum core; has been recorded on both sides
These yellow fiber-core discs were commonly used for amateur home recording in the 1940s and 1950s.
Aluminum core disc. Disc is labeled "Monologue and Masks" and "Masks--Virginia Way" recorded by Lew and Alice Morrison.
In envelope with "The Charles Eckart Co." from Los Angeles, California stamped on upper left corner.
"Facts about RCA VICTOR Custom Recording, Processing, Pressing Services for Independent Labels," Soundcraft Presto recording discs price list, Armco (Allied Recording Manufacturing company) trifold information brochure.
Typewritten dialogue on Morrison Music Company letterhead, presumably by Morrie Morrison
Written by Morrie Morrison with illustrations by D. Griffen and D. McGowan
Written on verso: Andrews Sisters - Recorded songs by Alice Nadine Morrison
Blank copyright registration forms and musicians' union contract
Writing on back is probably song lyrics or a poem by Morrie Morrison
missing
Program for Harvest Hoe-Down at the Civic Auditorium, September 23, 1949 with music by Morrie Morrison's Western Rangers 15 piece recording orchestra, and programs for "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow," at the Metropolitan Theatre, directed by Morrie Morrison. Back page of Hoedown program is a full page advertisement for Morrison Music Company records.