Tribute to Naggo Heptones Morris
Donation protected
Greetings,
My brother Dolphin "Naggo" Morris passed away from metastatic cancer on Sunday, May 17, 2020. He was 72. Due to the nature of his illness and inability work, he exhausted all of his finances prior to death. His family is left without funds for a proper burial. I am seeking enough donations to cover his funeral and a headstone memorial.
My brother and I were very close, despite him residing in Jamaica and I in the US. I assisted his musical career by starting a promotion business (Vivid Promotions), an internet radio station and a website (Vivid Reggae) in an effort to help him and other underexposed artists. He is my big brother and he will be deeply missed by his siblings, children, nieces, nephews, friends and fans.
The family will appreciate any financial help you can provide and we are looking to have him layed to rest within the next 2-3 weeks. Thank you.
Obituary
Recording artist, singer and songwriter Naggo Morris passed away Sunday, May 17, at Cornwall Regional Hospital following a bout with cancer. Known for the hit songs Flour Power, Su Su Pan Rasta, and many others, he also performed with the Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio The Heptones starting in the 1970s.
Naggo Morris, whose given name is Dolphin George Morris, was born of Vernal Naggo Morris and Ivy Morris on September 30, 1947, in Carron Hall, St. Mary. The family moved to Kingston when he was two weeks old and lived on Chisholm Avenue. He fondly recalled attending the Rousseau School on Ricketts Avenue.
Naggo’s father was a gifted musician and entertainer whose heartfelt saxophone playing could bring tears to the eyes. Young Naggo fell in love with the entertainment business from observing his father. He started as a dancer with a group called The Coasters, with Coupland Forbes and Lenord Mundy. They worked with Louis Bennett and Ranny Williams on TV shows like: Sounds of the Seventies, Mambo Tam Boo, Ring Ding and Coozie Corner. They also performed Christmas Morning shows at the Carib Theatre, Regal Majestic Theatre and State Theatre in Kingston; and the Strand and Palladium Theatres in Montego Bay. It was a fine start to life in the entertainment business, especially working with the great Louis Bennett.
Dancing was not enough for the multi-talented Naggo Morris. He moved on to join a singing group called The Morwells and then moved to The Royals, with whom he recorded albums such as: Pick Up the Pieces and Conference Table. He also recorded at Studio One with a group called the Soul Boys (Barrington Spence and Junior Zun). They did a few songs for Down Beat/ Studio One then moved to Treasure Isle Recording Studio where they worked along-side Stranger Cole, Alton Ellis, Slim Smith, The Technique, The Unique and others. Naggo went on to do a single called Say You (Adapted) for Prince Toney on the Front-Line recording label. He also did vocals on an album called Rasta Ambassador with U-Roy.
Some of his major hits were Here I Come with Clappas Records, the renowned Su Su Pan Rasta and Jah Guide with Joe Gibbs and of course these were all number one hits on the charts. The riddim for Su Su Pan Rasta was so huge that Prince Far I did a song called Heavy Manners on it and that was a big hit, too. Naggo also did One Meal on the Joe Gibbs Label. During this time, he did backing vocals with Lloyd Parks of We the People Band and Ruddy Thomas. Some of his most treasured moments were working alongside Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Bob Andy with whom they produced multiple hit songs.
In 1974, Naggo recorded the hit song Flour Power which was inspired by people being poisoned from flour contaminated with rat poison in Jamaica. This took the entertainment industry by storm and continues to be a well-loved song.
Being a very accomplished roots singer, it was no mistake when The Heptones recruited him to replace Leroy Sibbles after he migrated in 1975. His deep roots style perfectly complimented The Heptones’ (Earl Morgan, Barry Llewellyn) keen harmony. As lead singer for The Heptones, they were the first to grace the stages of the first Reggae Sun Splash that came to Jarrett Park in Montego bay. It was a real honor for him to be a part of such a momentous event in the history of Jamaican reggae music. They opened the show billed with top artists such as Bob Marley, Ken Booth, Alton Ellis and many others. They also performed in 1982 at the Catherine Hall Bob Marley Center.
The Heptones also recorded How Could I Leave and others songs at Channel One but then Paulie (owner of channel) died and those songs were not released. Dennis Brown re-recorded the same song How Could I Leave on the Joe Gibbs label and it became number one. Despite this setback The Heptones kept going. They did an album called Better Days for Winston Niney Holliness Boswell then they went to England on tour in 1975. The Heptones toured Europe, Canada and the USA. One of Naggo’s most treasured memories was visiting Scotland and seeing men wearing skirts with their bagpipes, a big cultural difference.
Naggo also worked with musicians such as Ansell Collins (key boards), Lloyd Park(Bass), Robbie Shakespeare (Bass), Sly Dunbar (drums), Frankie Bubbler (Organ), Ranchie McLean (guitarist), Rica Backa (guitarist), Bongo Herman (percussion), Frank Aird aka Blazing Frank (trumpet), Vin Gordon (trombone), and Deadly Headley (alto horns).
One fan wrote, “Morris' passionate baritone is always in evidence on whatever material he tackles."
In late 2019 a lump appeared in Naggo’s neck. After doing multiple procedures and tests he was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Despite this diagnosis, Naggo remained the positive optimistic individual we know and he resolved to fight the disease. Unfortunately, while in the hospital he received the news that his sister Eugenie and his close friend and entertainer Doreen died. He took this to heart and stopped eating.
May his soul rest in power.
Jah Guide.
My brother Dolphin "Naggo" Morris passed away from metastatic cancer on Sunday, May 17, 2020. He was 72. Due to the nature of his illness and inability work, he exhausted all of his finances prior to death. His family is left without funds for a proper burial. I am seeking enough donations to cover his funeral and a headstone memorial.
My brother and I were very close, despite him residing in Jamaica and I in the US. I assisted his musical career by starting a promotion business (Vivid Promotions), an internet radio station and a website (Vivid Reggae) in an effort to help him and other underexposed artists. He is my big brother and he will be deeply missed by his siblings, children, nieces, nephews, friends and fans.
The family will appreciate any financial help you can provide and we are looking to have him layed to rest within the next 2-3 weeks. Thank you.
Obituary
Recording artist, singer and songwriter Naggo Morris passed away Sunday, May 17, at Cornwall Regional Hospital following a bout with cancer. Known for the hit songs Flour Power, Su Su Pan Rasta, and many others, he also performed with the Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio The Heptones starting in the 1970s.
Naggo Morris, whose given name is Dolphin George Morris, was born of Vernal Naggo Morris and Ivy Morris on September 30, 1947, in Carron Hall, St. Mary. The family moved to Kingston when he was two weeks old and lived on Chisholm Avenue. He fondly recalled attending the Rousseau School on Ricketts Avenue.
Naggo’s father was a gifted musician and entertainer whose heartfelt saxophone playing could bring tears to the eyes. Young Naggo fell in love with the entertainment business from observing his father. He started as a dancer with a group called The Coasters, with Coupland Forbes and Lenord Mundy. They worked with Louis Bennett and Ranny Williams on TV shows like: Sounds of the Seventies, Mambo Tam Boo, Ring Ding and Coozie Corner. They also performed Christmas Morning shows at the Carib Theatre, Regal Majestic Theatre and State Theatre in Kingston; and the Strand and Palladium Theatres in Montego Bay. It was a fine start to life in the entertainment business, especially working with the great Louis Bennett.
Dancing was not enough for the multi-talented Naggo Morris. He moved on to join a singing group called The Morwells and then moved to The Royals, with whom he recorded albums such as: Pick Up the Pieces and Conference Table. He also recorded at Studio One with a group called the Soul Boys (Barrington Spence and Junior Zun). They did a few songs for Down Beat/ Studio One then moved to Treasure Isle Recording Studio where they worked along-side Stranger Cole, Alton Ellis, Slim Smith, The Technique, The Unique and others. Naggo went on to do a single called Say You (Adapted) for Prince Toney on the Front-Line recording label. He also did vocals on an album called Rasta Ambassador with U-Roy.
Some of his major hits were Here I Come with Clappas Records, the renowned Su Su Pan Rasta and Jah Guide with Joe Gibbs and of course these were all number one hits on the charts. The riddim for Su Su Pan Rasta was so huge that Prince Far I did a song called Heavy Manners on it and that was a big hit, too. Naggo also did One Meal on the Joe Gibbs Label. During this time, he did backing vocals with Lloyd Parks of We the People Band and Ruddy Thomas. Some of his most treasured moments were working alongside Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Bob Andy with whom they produced multiple hit songs.
In 1974, Naggo recorded the hit song Flour Power which was inspired by people being poisoned from flour contaminated with rat poison in Jamaica. This took the entertainment industry by storm and continues to be a well-loved song.
Being a very accomplished roots singer, it was no mistake when The Heptones recruited him to replace Leroy Sibbles after he migrated in 1975. His deep roots style perfectly complimented The Heptones’ (Earl Morgan, Barry Llewellyn) keen harmony. As lead singer for The Heptones, they were the first to grace the stages of the first Reggae Sun Splash that came to Jarrett Park in Montego bay. It was a real honor for him to be a part of such a momentous event in the history of Jamaican reggae music. They opened the show billed with top artists such as Bob Marley, Ken Booth, Alton Ellis and many others. They also performed in 1982 at the Catherine Hall Bob Marley Center.
The Heptones also recorded How Could I Leave and others songs at Channel One but then Paulie (owner of channel) died and those songs were not released. Dennis Brown re-recorded the same song How Could I Leave on the Joe Gibbs label and it became number one. Despite this setback The Heptones kept going. They did an album called Better Days for Winston Niney Holliness Boswell then they went to England on tour in 1975. The Heptones toured Europe, Canada and the USA. One of Naggo’s most treasured memories was visiting Scotland and seeing men wearing skirts with their bagpipes, a big cultural difference.
Naggo also worked with musicians such as Ansell Collins (key boards), Lloyd Park(Bass), Robbie Shakespeare (Bass), Sly Dunbar (drums), Frankie Bubbler (Organ), Ranchie McLean (guitarist), Rica Backa (guitarist), Bongo Herman (percussion), Frank Aird aka Blazing Frank (trumpet), Vin Gordon (trombone), and Deadly Headley (alto horns).
One fan wrote, “Morris' passionate baritone is always in evidence on whatever material he tackles."
In late 2019 a lump appeared in Naggo’s neck. After doing multiple procedures and tests he was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Despite this diagnosis, Naggo remained the positive optimistic individual we know and he resolved to fight the disease. Unfortunately, while in the hospital he received the news that his sister Eugenie and his close friend and entertainer Doreen died. He took this to heart and stopped eating.
May his soul rest in power.
Jah Guide.
Organizer
Vivia Morris-Torvik
Organizer
Charleston, SC