The Barbara Morrison Documentary - Help Fund Please

We are Timothy Morganfield and Karen Clark, owners-operators of The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center. We are raising funds to complete the documentary on her life.

Barbara Morrison died unexpectedly on March 16th, 2022, after an illustrious career spanning the globe. Ms. Morrison recorded over 20 albums and was featured on many more.

In 2009, The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center was founded by the late great, internationally known jazz and blues singer Barbara Morrison, who was born in Ypsilanti and raised in Romulus, Michigan. Ms. Morrison attended Eastern Michigan University and then drove to California in 1973 to begin her illustrious singing career.

Barbara worked with Johnny Otis, who sought her out to audition. He encouraged her to use her voice and style, not to emulate anyone else. She recorded two albums with Mr. Otis before going on to work with many other greats. In no particular order, she worked with Philip Morris, Jimmy Smith, James Moody, Kenny Burrell, Mel Tormé, Diane Reeves, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, Lou Rawls, Gerald Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Ron Carter, Etta James, Little Esther Phillips, David T. Walker, Dr. John, Terence Blanchard, Joe Sample, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Keb' Mo, Count Basie Orchestra, Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, the Ray Charles Orchestra, and Doc Severinsen.

Barbara eventually went solo and signed with High Note Records. Barbara's rich voice was featured in film and television, including The Hurricane starring Denzel Washington; NBC comedy The Naked Truth, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Dennis Miller Show.

In 1994, Barbara began an adjunct associate professorship of global jazz studies at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, hired by Director Kenny Burrell.

In 1998, Barbara began performing at Pip's on La Brea in Los Angeles for over a decade.

In 2013, Barbara founded the CA Jazz and Blues Museum in Leimert Park to complement The Center. The Museum features photos, artifacts, and other history of jazz and blues greats, many from Leimert Park and the surrounding Crenshaw District in Los Angeles.

In 2021, Barbara was featured in the animated Netflix series City of Ghosts, about kids who explore Los Angeles and learn history through stories and memories embedded in the featured neighborhood. Episode 4, "Leimert Park," explores the neighborhood's musical history. Barbara was so intrigued by the musical history of Leimert Park that she founded her venue there. In the episode, Barbara tells the stories while riding through the neighborhood in her signature electric chair. Barbara suffered a leg amputation after an illness, but one would never know that unless one knew that. It didn't stop her from serving the community and performing locally, regionally, domestically, and internationally.

In September 2022, the City of Los Angeles named the corner of 43rd Street and Degnan Boulevard "Barbara Morrison Square" in honor of this cultural icon.

We will hold the 3rd Annual Barbara Morrison Jazz and Blues Festival in September 2025, in honor of Barbara's birthday.