Huey Morgan

Huey Morgan
Morgan with the Fun Lovin' Criminals
at Tilburg, Netherlands, June 2011
Background information
Birth name Hugh Thomas Diaz Morgan
Also known as Papa Large, Huey, Dangerous Huey Morgan
Born 7 August 1968, (age 50)
New York City, New York, United States
Genres Alternative rock, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, funk
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, writer, television personality, radio DJ
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1993–present
Associated acts Fun Lovin' Criminals, Huey and the New Yorkers
Website http://www.hueymorgan.com

Huey Morgan is an American musician best known as the frontman of rock/hip hop band Fun Lovin' Criminals.[1] Morgan performs both vocals and guitar and combines rock, hip hop, jazz, reggae, and funk influences in his music. He also performs as a BBC Radio DJ, and has made film and TV appearances.

Early life

Morgan is an American, born to Puerto Rican-American and Irish-American parents. In his youth he committed petty crimes and dealt cocaine, and was arrested for doing so, whilst driving a stolen car.[2] The judge gave him the choice between going to jail or spending some time in the Marine Corps - Morgan chose to join the Marines. This is mentioned in the song The Grave And The Constant. It is possible that this is a made up story, although he has the Marines' motto - 'semper fidelis' - tattooed on his left lower arm. Morgan has long left his criminal past behind, noting that the name Fun Lovin' Criminals was chosen because he didn't want to hurt anyone and felt uneasy around those who did.

Music career

In 1993, Morgan formed Fun Lovin' Criminals with Brian Leiser and Steve Borgovini. They have released six studio albums, three of which made the top ten in the UK Albums Chart, and have scored eight top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart. In 2010 Morgan made a guest appearance in the music video of Plan B's single "Prayin'", and in 2012, collaborated with JetTricks on the track "See Us Through" from their "Better Than Real Life" album. Also, in 2012, Morgan released his début solo album Say It To My Face credited to Huey and the New Yorkers.

Appearances in other media

Writing

Morgan had a short-lived, ghost-written wine column for the British magazine Mondo from 2000 to 2001.[3]

In June 2015, Huey Morgan released his first book "Rebel Heroes: The Renegades of Music & Why We Still Need Them".

Television

On television, Morgan has appeared on the UK comedy music quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks, three times as a guest panelist. In his most famous appearance, Morgan smashed a mug after becoming upset when needing to repeat lyrics from his songs in the next line round.[4] Morgan also participated in the BBC's The Underdog Show, where eight celebrities trained and rehabilitated rescued dogs.[5] He is also a frequent guest panelist on the UK Channel 5 morning show The Wright Stuff. Morgan also made a guest appearance in an episode of Skins as Toxic Bob, the owner of a metal record shop. In 2010 Morgan co-hosted Liza & Huey's Pet Nation on Sky One with Liza Tarbuck. Morgan also hosted Slips on the British music channel Viva.[6] More recent work includes narration for National Geographic's epic series 'Drugs Inc', now in its 3rd series, voice overs for TV ads such as Blink Box and more. In 2015 Morgan began work on the Sky Arts show Guitar Stars, working with fellow DJ Edith Bowman, but left after the first series. On November 3, 2016, Morgan appeared as a panelist on the BBC Television political debate programme Question Time. In April 2018, Morgan appeared on 'Million Pound Holiday Club' on Channel 4 with stunt driver Ben Collins racing cars in the countryside.

Film

Morgan starred in Clubbing to Death with Craig Charles, Nick Moran, Dave Courtney, and Deepak Verma.[7] He also played record shop proprietor Dee Dee in Soulboy (film), a dramatisation of the 1970s Northern Soul scene starring Felicity Jones and Alfie Allen.

Voice-over

Morgan did a voice-over for the video game Scarface: The World is Yours.[8] He is the voice of National Geographic TV shows Drugs INC, and Underworld INC as well as narrating the two-part BBC television documentary "Blues America" in 2013, which can be seen on YouTube. In 2016 voiced a global advertising campaign for Lynx [Axe] deodorant.

Radio

On Sunday 5 October 2008 Morgan began hosting his own radio show, "The Huey Show" on BBC Radio 6 Music.[9] The show won a Bronze Award at the 2009 Sony Radio Academy Awards. Since April 2011, Morgan has hosted his own show on BBC Radio 2 on Saturdays from midnight until 3 am, replacing the show's previous host Mark Lamarr. The show was moved to 3 am till 6 am from October 2014, but was moved back to its original timeslot of midnight till 3 am from Saturday 4 February 2017 until Saturday 25 March 2017 when he presented his final "After Midnight" show. Morgan then presented two shows on Radio 2 from Saturday 1 April, from 5 am, in 1 hour slots weekly on Saturdays and Sundays. His Saturday show is called "Huey's Finest Saturday Selection" which covers 1 hour of his favourite selections, and his Sunday show, "Huey's Sunday Best", covered Huey's favourite music from a chosen year of his choice and was broadcast until 13 May 2018 . His Saturday show on Radio 2 has been extended to a 2 hour show from 19 May 2018 and is now broadcast from 4am-6am. Morgan has also covered other presenters' absences on various shows. In 2013, "The Huey Show" was moved to Saturdays on BBC Radio 6 Music which airs from 10 am till 1 pm. Huey often refers to himself as "The people's champion".

Other business ventures

Morgan previously co-owned The Voodoo Lounge, The Dice Bar and DiFontaine's Pizza Place in Dublin. Huey also opened Notting Hill Tattoo Studio, Love Hate Social Club with New York Tattoo Artist Ami James in November 2012.

Personal life

Morgan has previously lived in New York City, Dublin, Hawaii, London[10] and now lives in Bath, Somerset[11] in England. He married his wife Rebecca, an interior designer in 2007. They have a son.

References

  1. ↑ "BBC Cambridgeshire - Interview". Bbc.co.uk. 2005-11-29. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  2. ↑ "Classic Album: Fun Lovin Criminals on 'Come Find Yourself'". musicradar.com. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  3. ↑ "Huey Morgan's Wine Column". Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  4. ↑ Plunkett, John (26 May 2015). "Never Mind the Buzzcocks: top five moments". the Guardian. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Underdog Show - Contestants - Hugh 'Huey' Morgan". BBC. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  6. ↑ "uk.viva.tv".
  7. ↑ Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Clubbing to Death". film.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Gamasutra - Audio Postmortem: Scarface: The World is Yours".
  9. ↑ On Air Now: 19:00 - 21:00. "6 Music - Shows - The Huey Show". BBC. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  10. ↑ "Huey and the New Yorkers Biography". Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "Huey Morgan Full Interview". Bristol Live Magazine. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
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