Cory Morrow









































Cory Morrow
Cory Morrow


It is fitting that a south of the border gamble nearly two decades ago would ultimately yield an acclaimed Texas troubadour. Cory Morrow’s humble artistic beginnings read like the gritty lyric of an unwritten Townes Van Zandt song. This straight-shooting musician, who drops his ninth solo release Vagrants And Kings on May 20th through Sustain Records, a branch of Universal Music, started strumming at the age of 15. "My stepfather Joe brought home my first guitar after visiting a little Mexican border town," Morrow remembers. After quibbling with the shop owner over the price of the guitar, Morrow says Joe laid down $80 on the table, twice what the guitar was worth. "He took out a quarter and asked the shopkeeper, ‘Are you a gambling man?’ The guy said, ‘Yes.’ Joe said, ‘Call it. If it lands on what you call, then you take the money and keep the guitar. If it’s the opposite of what you call, I take the money and the guitar,’" Morrow recalls. One lucky coin toss later, the six string gained a new owner. Morrow enlisted in music lessons during his high school years, and soon he was banging out songs by Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top. When Morrow moved on to college at Texas Tech University, friends introduced him to the rootsy, honky-tonk fare of fellow Texans Robert Earl Keen and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Inspired to give expression to his own emotions, Morrow began penning guitar-based compositions in a similarly stripped down, organic style. In 1993, he pulled out of college and migrated south to Austin where he would pursue a career making music. Morrow dug into the local scene. He began playing gigs with a band, honing his songwriting craft and stretching his raw vocals by studying singers like Don Williams and Merle Haggard. Fifteen years, and thousands of live shows later, Morrow has emerged as one of the lone star state’s best-loved artists. Revered along with college pal Pat Green as a preservationist of the unique Texas music "sound," which combines elements of country, bluegrass, swing and blues, Morrow inspires a fierce loyalty in his fans. As an independent artist, he moved 200,000 discs through his own WriteOn label. His latest offering, Vagrants And Kings, finds Morrow at his strongest- artistically, personally and spiritually. Morrow’s rustic sound remains part singer/songwriter: poetic and acoustic at times. But it’s equal parts country rock: accessible, hooky and rowdy in the tradition of outlaws like the Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Produced with Morrow band bassist Steve Cargill and recorded with the rest of his road crew (Hoyt Stacy on drums, J.J. Soto on guitars, Nick Worley on fiddle and Tim McDonald ..s, as well as Cargill) the 10-track album is an honest representation of Morrow’s artistry, whether in studio or on stage. The interstate warrior, who averages nearly 150 shows a year, tracked the album at his Austin home on a Pro-Tools rig acquired from producer friend Keith Gattis. Morrow, who wrote or co-wrote every tune along with frequent collaborators Walt Wilkins and Liz Rose, among others, calls Vagrants And Kings a "snapshot” of his life. Notes Morrow, "The passion of the lyrics finally came through in the production of the music. I got to this place where everything made sense, where I was seeing life more clearly. Then the music started flowing." Morrow’s last studio offering, the reflective Nothing Left to Hide (2005), highlighted the artist’s struggle through an intense period of soul searching. That batch of songs found Morrow grappling with issues of forgiveness and recovery following his 2005 arrest for what he calls "serious mistakes." But Morrow has entered a new season. "Love Finds Everyone," a candid, buoyant track, sets the tone for the new CD: Even if you think you don’t need it, right when you think you’ll never feel it… Love finds everyone. "When I’m writing music, either I’m healing from the pains and wounds in my life or I’m celebrating the good things in my life," Morrow says. Songs like the tender "Radiates," the soulful, harmony-drenched "My Baby and Me" and the whimsical "I Can Wait" pay homage to a burgeoning, transformational love. And Morrow is unabashedly forthright about the emotions he conveys in his new songs: "Since I met my fiancée, Sherry, the last two years have been amazing. There have been problems that every day brings, but the difference is I get to share it with her, and she gives me perspective. She’s increased my faith, and she’s brought me back to the realization that I don’t have to do things on my own." Morrow’s first single, “He Carries Me,” continues the sentiment, albeit directed toward a higher realm. While themes of salvation and redemption are not new in Morrow’s work, on Vagrants And Kings he approaches such weighty issues with the fervor of a true believer. "Lord, You Devil," a Radney Foster co-write, is a humorous tune offering props to a mysterious, omniscient God. Morrow’s first radio single, the impassioned, gospel-tinged "(Sometimes I Stumble, That’s When) He Carries Me," perhaps best relays where Morrow has landed in recent days. Says Morrow, "For so long I tried to do it on my own. The thing is, you’re not supposed to do it alone. Why would you want to?"
Date Venue City State Note
No Tour Dates Available
09/24/2010 - Saved and sober Cory Morrow celebrates ‘Brand New Me’ CD - Read More
08/26/2009 - Cory Morrow loves Texas, because his sound is bigger - Read More
06/27/2008 - Cory Morrow’s new CD ‘a celebration’ - Read More
05/09/2008 - Singer Seeks Spotlight Outside Texas Borders - Read More
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No Blogs Available
08/01/2005 - Cory Morrow Q&A - Read More
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Average Rating : 3.9              Total Reviews: 290


Cory Morrow  05/29/2015            
R. Barrett
I can not believe all the mixed reviews. I think some people may be brainwashed with to much clear channel radio. Cory is a legend people. I have been a fan since 1996. I would like to see Lloyd Maines produce him again. Overall all his albums should be cherished like a coat from the cold. Keep pickin hoss.
Cory Morrow  08/31/2010            
Spud
A great CD; maybe even his best yet. A good reminder of how great Cory really is. Easy to listen to, and a lot of fun.
Cory Morrow  06/08/2010            
dana
Hey Cory!!!! It's Jeremy's crazy Aunt Dana! I'm requesting "Restless Girl" when you come!!!!! Travis's White Mule is now acoustic only, but you could\play full band, elsewhere...... hope to see you soon here in Columbia, SC! Btw, if you haven't heard he (Jeremy and Melissa have a new baby boy!) If I can help you out let me know, my cell number is 803.446.1357. Maybe I can get Travis a hand at bookings some awesome shows! Columbia can be a hot town too!
Cory Morrow  06/01/2010            
prgonzo74
Been a very long time fan and tried to like Vagrants & Kings but just couldn't. The song "Ramblin Man" on this new EP sounds promising and I'm looking forwared to his 19 song cd in August. I wasn't aware of that.
Cory Morrow  05/26/2010            
redhotone
just go to one of his concerts discern how nashville you think he is...dumb
Cory Morrow  05/25/2010            
NB, TX
A few new songs for a teaser and studio recordings for two awesome songs that have only been done live - what's wrong with that? Nothing!
Cory Morrow  04/29/2010            
L Bell
Lomesome is one of my favorite songs right now. The new cd is going to be great. I like how Cory changes everything up on every album. Not the same old stuff, Texas and Beer. Keep it up Cory.
Cory Morrow  04/27/2010            
soapsuds
i dont understand why people knock cory's new stuff so much!! the peoples main reason i guess is that everyline in his new songs dont involve beer and texas!! I would assume that most of you that knock his new stuff are die hard josh abbott and casey donahew fans and that explains it!! cory is a great songwriter and guitar player and if u dont get that i would recomend putting taste or white trash story in ur player and move on!! as far as you saying it's a five song EP with old songs is crazy 1. one it's an E.P and 2. the full c.d will be out in august and has 19 brand new tracks!!!
Cory Morrow  04/16/2010            
KA
wow...5 songs on an EP, 2 of them remakes, another Cory Morrow failure .
Cory Morrow  04/13/2010            
KB
Sux!!!!! Too many white lines I suppose!
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