Thursday, August 02, 2007

Oliver Morgan - Who Shot The La La (GNP Crescendo 318)


Who Shot The La La

Please join me in saying goodbye to the king of the second line, Oliver Morgan, who passed away this past Tuesday in exile in Atlanta.

Morgan came up in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, running partners with Jessie Hill, Eddie Bo, Papoose Nelson and his brother, the fabled Prince La-La. His first recordings, like La La's, were made for A.F.O. under the name of 'Nookie Boy'. This monumental party classic we have here today, was released in 1964 and helped turn La-La's untimely death into the stuff of legend. It also became Oliver's signature tune, performed with his trademark umbrella, as he led the 'second line' every year at Jazz Fest, and anyplace else that would have him.

He and his wife Sylvia had made their home on Tennessee Street in the Lower Ninth Ward until Hurricane Katrina took it from them in 2005. Relocating to Atlanta, their heart never seemed to have made the trip. "He had 9th Ward soul," said Antoinette K-Doe, the widow of Ernie K-Doe and a friend of Mr. Morgan's for more than 40 years. "And he was a good father and a good husband."

May he rest in peace.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Never heard this before it's GREAT!

Better get over to the B Side.

D

1:42 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oliver LaLa Morgan was a legend in my hometown of New Orleans. He has been missed since Katrina but now we can't expect to see him again for a long time, hopefully. lol I'll bet he's second-lining in Heaven!

6:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Krewe of Orpheus threw some large memorial dubloons for Oliver on Lundi Gras Feb 4, 2008.

6:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The commerative dubloon from the Krewe of Orpheus memorialized the life of Oliver Morgan and his famous song "Who Shot the La La." He will be missed, but never forgotten, as his music lives and influences our Crescent City. Rest in Peace.

4:35 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I always looked for Oliver Morgan 2 see where he would be he always brought me out of depression and helped me get back in the swing of things. I use to like when he would sing I GOT YOU I really miss him but have his music and will always listen to him . GOD BLESS U AND YOUR FAMILY. LOVE MELINDA IN METAIRIE LA.

5:37 PM  

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