Van Morrison And His Music In The Early Years
Born in Belfast in the 1945, in Northern Ireland George Ivan Morrison was an only child. His father George was a ship worker, and mother Violet a housewife, and a competent tap dancer and entertainer in her youth. Fortuitously, his father had acquired a large record collection during a trip to the United States and Van grew up listening to blues artists such as Ray Charles and Leadbelly who were to influence his style later in life.
A critically acclaimed singer and songwriter he is renowned for being stubborn, and often gives astounding live performances. The studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance are frequently rated as being some of the best albums ever made.
When he was eleven, his father bought him his first acoustic guitar and learned a few basic chords from a teach yourself book and it was clear that he had an aptitude for music. Van started performing in the late 1950s having become competent on the harmonica, guitar, keyboards, and saxophone and has already honed his trade in a number of cover bands playing the latest tunes of the era.
Morrison formed his first band "The Sputniks", named after the recently launched Soviet satellite, Sputnik 1. In 1958, the band played at some of the local cinemas, and Morrison took the lead, contributing most of the singing and arranging. His father was ever supportive and he talked him into buying a saxophone, and took lessons in tenor sax and music reading.
Leaving school in 1960 with no qualifications he was expected to get a regular full-time job, finally settling for life as a window cleaner, later writing songs about his experiences. Van had been developing his musical interests from an early age and had some clear ideas about his musical direction.
Touring Europe for the first time at seventeen with his band The Monarchs, Morrison played saxophone, guitar and harmonica regularly, and bass and drums as required. He had become a competent musician and learnt his trade touring clubs and US Army bases in England, Scotland and Germany, playing five sets a night on many occasions. The band recorded a single at Ariola Studios in Cologne which was Morrison's first on which he played saxophone and remarkably it entered the lower part of German charts.
In the mid-1960s he was the lead singer with Them and recorded the classic "Gloria", one of the favorites in his sets. When he returned to Belfast the group disbanded and he began his solo career.
While being managed by Bert Berns, Van Morrison released the hit single "Brown Eyed Girl" in 1967. Warner Brothers bought out his contract shortly after due to the death of his manager. He recorded Astral Weeks in 1968 which was critically acclaimed, but sales were initially poor, although it has now grown to become an all-time classic. The album established him as a major recording artist, and throughout the 1970s he built his reputation. Van Morrison continues to tour, record and collaborate with other artists, producing albums and live performances that are well received, returning to live performances of Astral Weeks in 2008 and in to 2009.
Morrison has received much acclaim including six Grammy Awards, being inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and appearing on several "Greatest Artists" lists. - 18424
A critically acclaimed singer and songwriter he is renowned for being stubborn, and often gives astounding live performances. The studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance are frequently rated as being some of the best albums ever made.
When he was eleven, his father bought him his first acoustic guitar and learned a few basic chords from a teach yourself book and it was clear that he had an aptitude for music. Van started performing in the late 1950s having become competent on the harmonica, guitar, keyboards, and saxophone and has already honed his trade in a number of cover bands playing the latest tunes of the era.
Morrison formed his first band "The Sputniks", named after the recently launched Soviet satellite, Sputnik 1. In 1958, the band played at some of the local cinemas, and Morrison took the lead, contributing most of the singing and arranging. His father was ever supportive and he talked him into buying a saxophone, and took lessons in tenor sax and music reading.
Leaving school in 1960 with no qualifications he was expected to get a regular full-time job, finally settling for life as a window cleaner, later writing songs about his experiences. Van had been developing his musical interests from an early age and had some clear ideas about his musical direction.
Touring Europe for the first time at seventeen with his band The Monarchs, Morrison played saxophone, guitar and harmonica regularly, and bass and drums as required. He had become a competent musician and learnt his trade touring clubs and US Army bases in England, Scotland and Germany, playing five sets a night on many occasions. The band recorded a single at Ariola Studios in Cologne which was Morrison's first on which he played saxophone and remarkably it entered the lower part of German charts.
In the mid-1960s he was the lead singer with Them and recorded the classic "Gloria", one of the favorites in his sets. When he returned to Belfast the group disbanded and he began his solo career.
While being managed by Bert Berns, Van Morrison released the hit single "Brown Eyed Girl" in 1967. Warner Brothers bought out his contract shortly after due to the death of his manager. He recorded Astral Weeks in 1968 which was critically acclaimed, but sales were initially poor, although it has now grown to become an all-time classic. The album established him as a major recording artist, and throughout the 1970s he built his reputation. Van Morrison continues to tour, record and collaborate with other artists, producing albums and live performances that are well received, returning to live performances of Astral Weeks in 2008 and in to 2009.
Morrison has received much acclaim including six Grammy Awards, being inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and appearing on several "Greatest Artists" lists. - 18424
About the Author:
There is some great information about the latest Van Morrison music schedule available at the official Van Morrison live site. Extensive news and official reviews are also available here.
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