Mick Morris

Mick Morris

Mick Morris

After initially studying violin and piano, Mick took up the guitar at the age of twelve and the following year formed his first group while a pupil at Dover Grammar School. A spell with a local dance band next provided a valuable musical apprenticeship and introduced him to a wider range of music following which he was invited to join the original Dover-based ROLLING STONES as lead guitarist. During this period the group were frequently employed as a support act, opening for and working alongside major 60s artistes such as Desmond Dekker, Georgie Fame, Cream, Geno Washington, The Yardbirds, Alan Price, The Searchers, John Mayall etc.
In the 1970s Mick was a founder member of cult progressive rock outfit MIRKWOOD whose drummer for a couple of years was Topper Headon. Mirkwood’s eponymous debut album has since been re-released several times and still attracts favourable reviews today. During the 80s and 90s Mick was a member of successful local bands EASY ACTION and ICEBREAKER.
Mick’s playing has always been driven by his passion for the instrument, rather than for any one particular style of music and his versatility as a guitarist was soon spotted leading to offers of work as an accompanist to visiting stage and TV artistes. As an accompanist or band member, Mick went on to work with an incredibly ‘mixed bag’ of acts including artists as diverse as Roy Castle, Eric Clapton, Larry Grayson, Freddie Starr, the Moody Blues, Tina Turner, Supertramp and numerous others and as a sideman with luminaries from the jazz world including Tony Coe, Pat Halcox and Joe Harriot.
Although a jazz stylist by natural inclination, he also enjoys playing Irish and bluegrass banjo music as well as other instruments including bouzouki, mandolin, concert ukulele and drums (he was co-publisher of the now discontinued magazine for drummers, DRUMS UK).
Mick is currently guitarist and banjo player with veteran Kent-based jazz cornettist Bill Barnacle’s band and also continues to work with his own trio and as an accompanist and teacher. He is currently writing a book about life as a musician called ‘Don’t Give Up The Day Job!’, which among other stories includes recollections of the many occasions when his dad’s well meaning advice won the day over tempting offers of work.
In recent times, Mick has concentrated his efforts on writing and recording. He has had a number of compositions published and produced several CD albums in a wide range of musical genres. Earlier this year his CD album REFLECTIONS was released to critical acclaim and he is currently writing and recording songs for a new album provisionally titled SOONER OR LATER (on which it is rumoured he is even planning to sing a bit!)