Eric "Monty" Morris | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1942 |
| Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | Ska,reggae |
| Years active | Early 1950s–present |
| Labels | Blue Beat,Treasure Isle |
Eric "Monty" Morris (born c.1942)[1] is aJamaicanska singer, known for his work withthe Skatalites and hit singles such as "Sammy Dead Oh" and "Oil in My Lamp".
Morris grew up in theTrench Town area ofKingston and like many singers of the era, Morris started by competing in talent contests in the early 1950s, includingVere Johns'Opportunity Hour, and made his first recording withDerrick Morgan.[2] Morris went on to record several singles forPrince Buster andDuke Reid and was the original vocalist forThe Skatalites. He also recorded as a duo withRoy Panton. Morris had a hit in 1961 with the song "Humpty Dumpty".
In 1962, "Money Can't Buy Life" which he composed was backed with "True Love" by Hortense Ellis & Stranger Cole. Produced byPrince Buster, it was released in the UK onBlue Beat BB83.[3]
In the wake of two big Jamaican hits with "Sammy Dead Oh" and "Oil in My Lamp" he performed in the United States at the1964 New York World's Fair as part of a Jamaican group of musicians that also includedMillie Small,Jimmy Cliff, andByron Lee & the Dragonaires.[4][5] He later recorded forClancy Eccles in 1968, including the hit "Say What You're Saying",[4] and forLee "Scratch" Perry in 1969.[6]
In the late 1970s, Morris emigrated to the United States, living in Washington DC and San Diego before settling in Florida in the early 2000s.[1] In 1998 he returned to Jamaica to perform at the Heineken Startime show.[1] As of 2016 he was still performing regularly.[1]
His "Enna Bella" was used in the soundtrack of the 2003Jim Jarmusch filmCoffee and Cigarettes.[7] His music has been included on many ska and reggae compilations.
In January 2020 it was announced that Morris would be the 2020 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA).[8]
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