In August 1945 one of the most important voices in modern Irish music was born in Bloomfield, East Belfast. Growing up around his father’s extensive record collection the young George Ivan Morrison was exposed to the greats of American jazz, rhythm & blues, country, folk, and gospel. These musical influences played a strong part in forming Morrison's unique, soulful voice and sound. Today Van Morrison is not only celebrated as a great artist in his own right but as a major inspiration for musicians from U2, to Rod Stewart, Elton John, Nick Cave, and Bruce Springsteen, to name but a few.
Born into a working class family in East Belfast Morrison's most likely path through life was as a tradesman. In 1960, like many of his peers, he left school with no qualifications and began searching for the apprenticeship or career that would traditionally define the rest of his life; eventually settling on window washer. His mother had been a singer in her youth and his father had amassed a huge collection of records from his time in Detroit in the ‘50s. This blessing of a rich musical upbringing offered Morrison an opportunity available to few others.
With his only child so obviously enamoured by the music around him George Morrison bought an acoustic guitar for his son when he was eleven years old. This was Morrison’s gateway instrument and he was soon playing local gigs with various bands he formed. The guitar couldn’t hold his whole attention though and, after hearing Jimmy Giuffre play on ‘The Train and the River’, a then fourteen year old Morrison convinced his father to buy him a saxophone. The sax and guitar would be Morrison’s staple instruments yet he also became well accomplished on the harp, bass, and drums.
While he had left school to begin working at fifteen Morrison continued to play with local showbands. When he was seventeen he went on his first European tour with the International Monarchs. Though they had a hectic schedule, often playing five sets a night, the band found the time to cut a single in Germany; ‘Boozoo Hully Gully’/Twingy Baby’ was Morrison’s first recording experience. While the International Monarchs disbanded on their return to Belfast in November 1963 the tour had been a massive learning experience for the young Morrison.
In ’64 Morrison set up a rhythm and blues club in the Maritime Hotel and went about forming a new band to play the opening night. Them was formed with Ronnie Millings, Billy Harrison, Alan Henderson, Eric Wrixon, and Morrison himself. The band became a crowd favourite thanks to their high energy and free flowing style; there was never a set routine and Morrison often ad-libbed songs. It was here that the hit ‘Gloria’, amongst other, took form and where the band caught the attention of Dick Rowe from Decca Records; who signed Them to a two year contract.
In ’66, building on the success of their records, the band went on a two month tour of America. Disputes over revenue put serious pressure on the band though and, after only two shows back home in Ireland, they split up. Them had been largely built on the spontaneity of live performances and seemed to suffer without being able to draw on the energy of the crowd. Despite this their records achieved considerable success. While the band had lasted only two years it established Morrison as an artist of note.
In ’67 Morrison embarked on a solo career in New York with Bang Records. This proved to be one of Morrison’s most unfortunate professional relationships. Morrison’s first solo album, ‘Blowin Your Mind!’, was put together by the studio from eight tracks that had been recorded as singles. The album’s release reportedly came as a shock to Morrison who heard about it from a friend after its launch. While this was by no means the high point of Morrison’s career ‘Blowin Your Mind!’ featured one of Morrison’s greatest hits, ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, that peaked at 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Contract disputes with Bang Records kept Morrison tied up until Warner Bros. Records were able to buy out his contract. In ’68 Morrison released probably his greatest work, ‘Astral Weeks’. A mystical song cycle this work has been celebrated and compared to great works of art and poetry. In 2009 it was voted the top Irish album of all time and reached number two in the 1995 ‘Mojo’ list of 100 Best Albums. Two years later Morrison cemented his place as one of music’s top emerging acts with his first million selling album, ‘Moondance’.
Though he continued to produce great albums and music the increased fame brought complications for Morrison. While he had no issue enthralling crowds hundreds strong, normally feeding off their energy to produce outstanding performances, the ever growing audience had begun to make this Belfast boy nervous. By ’72 he was experience stage fright that eventually saw him take a break from music. Returning to playing club venues Morrison regained his onstage presence as he performed for smaller, more intimate, crowds.
Though he has established himself as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, being inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame, Van Morrison has refused to sit on his laurels. Today he continues to write new music and perform extensively around the world. Join Patrick as ‘Talking History’ takes a look at the life, music, and legacy of Van Morrison. What sets ‘Van the Man’ apart from other musicians? How should we categorise his music? What was his relationship with his native Northern Ireland? And why did ‘Days Like This’ become the anthem for the peace movement?
Patrick also talked with Shane Kenna about his addition to the '16 Lives' series on the rebel leader Thomas McDonagh; '16 Lives: Thomas McDonagh'. A full list of 'Talking History' book recommendations can be found here.
