Nearer My God to Thee

Russ Morgan was one of America's most popular big-band leaders of the 1930's, 40's and 50's. Staring out in Pennsylvania in the early 1920's, he played trombone in bands with Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey, moved to New York and wrote arrangements for John Phillip Sousa and Victor Herbert, toured Europe with Paul Specht's orchestra which included Paul Whiteman and Artie Shaw, and joined Jean Goldkette's orchestra upon his return to the states. For a short time, Morgan arranged for the Fletcher Henderson orchestra and in 1935 played trombone in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. He became a music director for Brunswick records and was later offered the position of Musical Director for Detroit Radio Station WXYZ. His show, "Music in the Morgan Manner," became one of the most popular radio shows in the U.S. in 1939 he formed his own orchestra which had record breaking runs at some of the most prestigious ballrooms around the country. Morgan's big year was 1949 when four songs he recorded hit the charts in a big way. His orchestra continued to be one of the most popular dancebands throughout the 1950's and early 60's. in the late 50's and early 1960's he recorded several fine albums for the Everest label, pioneers in the field of stereo recording. This unique collection of hymns recorded in 1961 harkens back to Morgan's days in the early 1920's when he was a member of the Georgians; a small group offshoot of Paul Specht's commercial orchestra that played very similar material. All selections newly remastered.