Van Morrison is a Northern Irish musician known for his unique blend of rock, jazz fusion, and Celtic music.
Morrison's albums have achieved significant success, with over 40 reaching the UK Top 40 and gaining international acclaim.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January 1993, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Biography
Early Life
Sir George Ivan Morrison, known as Van Morrison, was born on August 31, 1945, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was raised in a working-class Protestant family, the only child of George and Violet Morrison. His mother, a former singer and tap dancer, and his father's extensive record collection exposed him to a diverse range of musical influences from an early age, including blues, jazz, gospel, and folk. This rich musical environment inspired Morrison's artistic development and laid the foundation for his future career.
Career
Morrison's recording career began in the 1960s, and he quickly gained recognition for his unique vocal style, which blends elements of rock, jazz fusion, and Celtic music. His debut album, "Blowin’ Your Mind!", was released in 1967, followed by critically acclaimed works such as "Astral Weeks" and "Moondance". Over the years, he has released numerous albums, with more than 40 reaching the UK Top 40. His artistry is characterized by a powerful and expressive voice, which has evolved over the decades, earning him a reputation as one of the most influential vocalists in rock history.
Personal Life
Morrison lived in Belfast until 1964, when he moved to London with the band Them. He later relocated to New York, where he married Janet Rigsbee, with whom he had a daughter, Shana. After their divorce in 1973, he returned to the UK, eventually settling in Bath and later in Dalkey, Ireland. Throughout his life, Morrison has faced various legal challenges, including disputes with neighbors over property issues.
Legacy
Morrison's contributions to music have been recognized with numerous awards, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has received an OBE and the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting, solidifying his status as a legendary figure in the music industry. His work continues to influence artists across genres, and he remains a celebrated icon of Northern Irish music.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
The Healing Game1997
- 1.Rough God Goes Riding6:20
- 2.Fire in the Belly6:34
- 3.This Weight4:37
- 4.Waiting Game5:56
- 5.Piper at the Gates of Dawn3:53
- 6.Burning Ground5:38
- 7.It Once Was My Life5:11
- 8.Sometimes We Cry5:15
- 9.If You Love Me5:01
- 10.The Healing Game5:17
Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison1996
- 1.One of These Days3:18
- 2.You Can Count on Me (to Do My Part)3:23
- 3.If You Live3:47
- 4.Was3:29
- 5.Look Here2:09
- 6.City Home3:26
- 7.No Trouble Livin’2:16
- 8.Benediction3:02
- 9.Back on the Corner2:23
- 10.Tell Me Something2:41
- 11.I Don’t Want Much2:04
- 12.News Nightclub2:44
- 13.Perfect Moment2:14
Days Like This1995
- 1.Perfect Fit4:36
- 2.Russian Roulette4:00
- 3.Raincheck5:55
- 4.You Don’t Know Me4:36
- 5.No Religion5:18
- 6.Underlying Depression4:38
- 7.Songwriter2:51
- 8.Days Like This3:17
- 9.I’ll Never Be Free3:42
- 10.Melancholia3:59
- 11.Ancient Highway8:55
- 12.In the Afternoon6:23
Too Long in Exile1993
- 1.Too Long in Exile6:19
- 2.Big Time Operators6:04
- 3.Lonely Avenue6:25
- 4.Ball & Chain5:36
- 5.In the Forest4:38
- 6.Till We Get the Healing Done8:23
- 7.Gloria5:20
- 8.Good Morning Little Schoolgirl4:08
- 9.Wasted Years3:58
- 10.The Lonesome Road3:16
- 11.Moody’s Mood for Love2:52
- 12.Close Enough for Jazz (instrumental)2:40
- 13.Before the World Was Made4:24
- 14.I’ll Take Care of You5:19
- 15.Instrumental / Tell Me What You Want8:10
Hymns to the Silence1991
- 1.Professional Jealousy3:47
- 2.I'm Not Feeling It Anymore6:36
- 3.Ordinary Life3:34
- 4.Some Peace of Mind6:28
- 5.So Complicated3:22
- 6.I Can't Stop Loving You3:58
- 7.Why Must I Always Explain?3:53
- 8.Village Idiot3:17
- 9.See Me Through, Part II (Just a Closer Walk With Thee)3:13
- 10.Take Me Back9:10
- 11.By His Grace2:38
- 12.All Saints Day2:32
- 13.Hymns to the Silence9:43
- 14.On Hyndford Street5:22
- 15.Be Thou My Vision3:52
- 16.Carrying a Torch4:29
- 17.Green Mansions3:42
- 18.Pagan Streams3:41
- 19.Quality Street4:00
- 20.It Must Be You4:11
- 21.I Need Your Kind of Loving4:31
Enlightenment1990
- 1.Real Real Gone3:41
- 2.Enlightenment4:07
- 3.So Quiet in Here6:17
- 4.Avalon of the Heart4:51
- 5.See Me Through6:20
- 6.Youth of 1,000 Summers3:44
- 7.In the Days Before Rock ’n’ Roll8:13
- 8.Start All Over Again4:15
- 9.She’s My Baby5:17
- 10.Memories4:21
Avalon Sunset1989
- 1.Whenever God Shines His Light4:55
- 2.Contacting My Angel4:59
- 3.I’d Love to Write Another Song2:55
- 4.Have I Told You Lately4:21
- 5.Coney Island2:03
- 6.I’m Tired Joey Boy2:31
- 7.When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God5:39
- 8.Orangefield3:52
- 9.Daring Night6:14
- 10.These Are the Days5:10
Irish Heartbeat1988
- 1.Star of the County Down2:42
- 2.Irish Heartbeat3:52
- 3.Tá Mo Chleamhnas Déanta3:31
- 4.Raglan Road4:56
- 5.She Moved Through the Fair4:44
- 6.I’ll Tell Me Ma2:30
- 7.Carrickfergus4:25
- 8.Celtic Ray3:41
- 9.My Lagan Love5:21
- 10.Marie’s Wedding3:15
Poetic Champions Compose1987
- 1.Spanish Steps5:24
- 2.The Mystery5:17
- 3.Queen of the Slipstream4:55
- 4.I Forgot That Love Existed4:20
- 5.Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child4:29
- 6.Celtic Excavation3:20
- 7.Someone Like You4:09
- 8.Alan Watts Blues4:26
- 9.Give Me My Rapture3:46
- 10.Did Ye Get Healed?4:08
- 11.Allow Me3:54
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher1986
- 1.Got to Go Back5:01
- 2.Oh the Warm Feeling3:19
- 3.Foreign Window5:23
- 4.A Town Called Paradise6:16
- 5.In the Garden5:48
- 6.Tir Na Nog7:17
- 7.Here Comes the Knight3:43
- 8.Thanks for the Information7:18
- 9.One Irish Rover3:33
- 10.Ivory Tower3:34
A Sense of Wonder1984
- 1.Tore Down a La Rimbaud4:13
- 2.Ancient of Days3:40
- 3.Evening Meditation4:15
- 4.The Master’s Eyes4:03
- 5.What Would I Do5:13
- 6.A Sense of Wonder7:12
- 7.Boffyflow and Spike3:07
- 8.If You Only Knew2:58
- 9.Let the Slave, Incorporating: The Price of Experience5:29
- 10.A New Kind of Man3:21
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart1983
- 1.Higher Than the World3:44
- 2.Connswater4:11
- 3.River of Time3:04
- 4.Celtic Swing5:04
- 5.Rave On, John Donne5:19
- 6.Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 14:56
- 7.Irish Heartbeat4:41
- 8.The Street Only Knew Your Name3:37
- 9.Cry for Home3:46
- 10.Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 23:55
- 11.September Night5:17
Beautiful Vision1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Common One1980
Tracklist not collected yet.
Into the Music1979
Tracklist not collected yet.
Wavelength1978
Tracklist not collected yet.
A Period of Transition1977
Tracklist not collected yet.
Veedon Fleece1974
Tracklist not collected yet.
Hard Nose the Highway1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Saint Dominic’s Preview1972
Tracklist not collected yet.
Tupelo Honey1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Moondance1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
His Band and the Street Choir1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Astral Weeks1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Blowin’ Your Mind!1967
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Mercury Records
- Record label
- Decca
- Record label
- Warner Bros. Records
- Record label
- Bang Records
Achievements
- Award
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Award
- Officer of Arts and Letters
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Award
- Johnny Mercer Award
- Award
- Americana Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting
- Award
- Knight Bachelor
Groups
- Georgie and the Monarchstenor saxophone · 1959–1963
- Themlead vocals, original · 1964–1966
- The Caledonia Soul Orchestraalto saxophone · 1973–1974
Played together with
- Alan HendersonThem · original
- Billy HarrisonThem · 1964–1965 · original
- Eric WrixonThem · 1964–1965 · keyboard, original
- Jim ArmstrongThem · electric guitar
- Pat McAuleyThem
- Ray ElliottThem
- Ronnie MillingsThem · 1964–1964 · drums (drum set), original
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
guitar, saxophone, harmonica, voice, alto saxophone, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, musical keyboard, piano
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: George Ivan Morrison, MORRISON Van, Ulsterman van Morrison, Van Morison, Van Morisson, Van Morrison and Friends
Sir George Ivan Morrison is a Northern Irish musician, singer, and songwriter whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK Top 40, as well as internationally, including in the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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