Edward Lee Morgan, Class of June 1956, passed away in February 1972 in New York City.
Edward Lee Morgan was one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, with many great LPs on Blue Note Records and other labels in the 50s, 60s and 70s. He played with all the greats of the time, including John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Herbie Hancock. He died on February 19, 1972 in New York, but he is far from forgotten. In fact, his recordings have been sampled by many hip hop artists today including A Tribe Called Quest. Many including myself rate Lee Morgan the best trumpet player who ever lived. He is surely Mastbaum's greatest alum. You should recognize him. Every Mastbaum student should be proud that one of the great cultural figures of American history got his musical education there. There ought to be a statue!
Barbara Walker (La Rue) (1959)
RECEIVED THIS THROUGH THE WEBSITE, THOUGHT WE WOULD SHARE THIS WITH YOU .....
I am not an alum, but I looked up Edward Morgan, class of 1956, and saw no information. Edward Lee Morgan was one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, with many great LPs on Blue Note Records and other labels in the 50s, 60s and 70s. He played with all the greats of the time, including John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Herbie Hancock. He died on February 19, 1972 in New York, but he is far from forgotten. In fact, his recordings have been sampled by many hip hop artists today including A Tribe Called Quest. Many including myself rate Lee Morgan the best trumpet player who ever lived. He is surely Mastbaum's greatest alum. You should recognize him. Every Mastbaum student should be proud that one of the great cultural figures of American history got his musical education there. There ought to be a statue!
Carmen V. Betoni, Jr. (1957)
I totally agree! Lee was a good friend. We used to meet at 6th & Allegheny every morning to take the 60 trolley to Mastbaum. He used to play his trumphet on the trolley. He was truly amazing and the best trumphet player of all time!! His track record proves that. A very, very, special man!
Carmen V. Betoni Jr. (Jun 57)
Kathleen Gerold (Lawrence) (1972)
Can Edward's graduation picture be posted here?