André’ dos Santos Morgan’s musicianship began to take shape in Denver, Colorado when, at 13, he began writing songs for Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, headed by his father, Pastor Oscar Morgan, Jr.
Around that time, his mother, Syl Morgan-Smith, an accomplished gospel singer, formed a group made up of Andre, his mother, his sister and brother. The group ended up sharing the stage with gospel greats such as Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, and The Five Blind Boys of Alabama. His talents were fine-tuned while on scholarship at the University of Northern Colorado for music, theatre, and dance.
Shortly after graduation, Mr. Morgan continued his performing life in New York City where he was a featured jazz vocalist (for The New York Jazz Ensemble, Rhythm-Motion, The Frank Canino Band, and Victor Lessor & Friends) a rock singer (with André & The White Boys and then The André Morgan Band) an actor (musical roles such as ‘Buddy’ in June Jordan’s & Adrienne Torf’s Bang Bang Uber Alles and film roles such as Terry in the movie Parting Glances. For 5 years, André was the artist-in-residence for New York University’s Music Recording Department, where he collaborated with Professor David Sanders.
As a composer, he has written jazz, soul, rock, funk, blues, gospel, cabaret, folk, and country. While performing with his former band DreamForward, his original music was described by a Bay Area magazine, as ‘a sentimental journey through time and space. Part African Groove, part Caribbean beat, part American jazz, and filled with soft soothing vocals.’
André toured with singer/activist Holly Near, and can be heard on her CD, Edge; in tribute to poet/activist June Jordan, Andre is featured on the CD, Collaboration–by Adrienne Torf and June Jordan; he was featured at an AfroSolo Arts Festival’s outdoor concert at Yerba Buena Gardens; portrayed ‘Z’ at Theater Rhinoceros in the Marvin White/Johari Jobari play For Colored Boys Who Have Considered S-Curls When the Hot Comb Was Enuf; two performances at San Francisco PRIDE; donated performances to Bread and Roses events as well as doing concerts for The Juvenile Diabetes Walkathon, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon, The San Francisco Coastal Clean-up, Little Brothers and Friends of The Elderly, The San Francisco Black Coalition on AIDS, The UCSF AIDS Project and the Laguna Honda Center and was a featured performer for Black Gay Letters and Arts Movement Festival. André lives in Northern California.
| Credit Type | Production | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | In the House of Blues | 1985-86 Season |