Matt Morris (musician)
Matt Morris | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Matthew Burton Morris |
Born | Denver, Colorado, U.S. | May 9, 1979
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1991–present |
Labels | Tennman |
Website | www |
Matthew David Morris (born Matthew Burton Morris on May 9, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former Episcopal priest. He has released solo projects on
He achieved early fame when he appeared on the Disney Channel television series The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, A.K.A. MMC in the early 1990s, where he was a cast member from 1991 to 1996 (seasons 4–7). Morris' January 2010 performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" with Justin Timberlake and Charlie Sexton on the Hope for Haiti Now telethon became the most downloaded song from the international broadcast's digital release and went to No. 1 on the iTunes music chart and No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Early life
Matt Morris was born and reared in
Morris's biological parents divorced while he was still an infant. Morris was raised in Denver by his mother Teri Hernandez, and his stepfather Ken. They lived in the Barnum neighborhood of Denver until Morris was in the fourth grade, when they moved to Bear Valley.[2]
In 1991, when Morris was in sixth grade, he joined the cast of the Mickey Mouse Club.[2] His cast mates included future collaborator and pop superstars Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. The show ended in 1994, when Morris was 15. Morris returned to his home in Denver, Colorado with the intention of distancing himself from the entertainment industry and reconnecting with his friends and family.[3] Morris attended John F. Kennedy High School[4] and starred in a number of high school plays, including South Pacific and The King and I.[5]
Morris grew up in an Episcopalian household.[6]
Musical career
He is the son of country music star
UnSpoken
In 2003, Morris released the independent album UnSpoken. To promote the album, Morris toured colleges around the United States and gave an interactive session and dialogue with audiences called "Reflections on Artistry and the Business of Music: A Dialogue with Matt Morris." The event consisted of a discussion of Morris' experiences in the music industry, as well as his thoughts about file sharing.[11]
Backstage at Bonnaroo and Other Acoustic Performances EP
Morris performed at the 2008
When Everything Breaks Open
On January 12, 2010, Morris released When Everything Breaks Open on Justin Timberlake's label, Tennman Records.[14] In support of the album, Morris performed on a number of television shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Lopez Tonight. When Everything Breaks Open was co-produced by Charlie Sexton and Justin Timberlake. The album was recorded largely at Public Hi-Fi, a recording studio in Austin, Texas founded by Spoon's Jim Eno.[15]
Chart (2010) | Peak Position[16] |
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Billboard 200 (United States) | 99 |
Top Independent Albums
|
13 |
Top Rock Albums
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31 |
Billboard Top Alternative Albums
|
25 |
Hallelujah
On January 22, 2010, Morris performed the Leonard Cohen song,
Live Forever video
The first video from When Everything Breaks Open was for the song, "Live Forever". The video was directed by Matt Stawski, with art by Serge Gay, Jr.. The video takes place in a non-descript suburban neighborhood and is rich with animation.[17]
Shlomo
Morris was offered the lead role alongside
Songwriter credits
2002
- "Can't Hold Us Down",[18][19] "Walk Away",[20] "Infatuation",[21] "Loving Me 4 Me",[22] "Underappreciated"[23] on Christina Aguilera's Stripped
2003
2006
- "(Another Song) All Over Again" Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds
2007
- "The Only Promise That Remains" on Reba McEntire's Reba: Duets[8]
2011
- "Need Someone" on Mary J. Blige's My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1)
2012
- "Closer to the Truth.
2014
- Love in High Places – Kimbra
- Song for My Father – Sarah Mclachlan
- Love Beside Me – Sarah Mclachlan
- 90s Music – Kimbra
- 90s Music M Phazes Remix – Kimbra
- Broken Over You – Grace Mitchell
- Little Secret – Nikki Yanofsky
2015
- Stand By You – Rachel Platten
- Woman (Oh Mama) – Joy Williams
- Love Beside Me – Joy Williams
- One Day I Will – Joy Williams
- What A Good Woman Does – Joy Williams
- Welcome Home – Joy Williams
- Till Forever – Joy Williams
- You Loved Me – Joy Williams
- Sweet Love of Mine – Joy Williams
- Dying Kind – Joy Williams
- Call – Francesco Yates
- Better To Be Loved – Francesco Yates
- Me & My Girls – Selena Gomez
Performance credits
2010
- performed "Hallelujah" live with Justin Timberlake and Charlie Sexton. "Hallelujah" was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and released on Cohen's seventh studio album, Various Positions (1984).
- featured on "Infatuation" by Flobots. "Infatuation" is co-written by Morris and included on Flobots second studio album, Survival Story (2010).
Ordained ministry
After graduating summa cum laude and receiving the award of Masters Student of the Year from
On the 3rd anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, Morris submitted a letter to his bishop requesting release and removal from ordained ministry in
Personal life
Morris is openly gay, and was married to Sean Michael Morris in 2008.[28] The two divorced in 2022.
Morris blogged about his religious journey under the name Teo Bishop from 2009 to 2014, and in 2012 he changed his legal name to Teo Bishop.[29] He changed his name back to Matthew in 2014.[30]
Discography
- 2003: UnSpoken
- 2008: Backstage at Bonnaroo and other Acoustic Performances EP
- 2010: When Everything Breaks Open
References
- ^ Fusilli, Jim (April 14, 2010). "From Mouseketeer To Balladeer". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ a b Johnson, Ru (February 2, 2010). "Matt Morris is more than Justin Timberlake's protege". Westword. Archived from the original on September 25, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ Johnson, Ru (February 2, 2010). "Matt Morris is more than Justin Timberlake's protege". Westword. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "Broadway's "Shlomo" would have Denver ties". The Denver Post. May 23, 2010.
- ^ Baca, Ricardo (January 11, 2010). "The Reverb Interview: Matt Morris". The Denver Post.
- ^ Bishop, Teo (November 2, 2013). "A Disruptive and Inconvenient Realization". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "Reba Outmuscles Kanye, 50 To Score First No. 1". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ Swami, The (January 2, 2010). "Colorado Music Buzz Magazine Daily Blog: Matt Morris Video links to David Letteman and Ellen DeGeneres (look for our CMBer Dave Preston playing guitar!)". Coloradomusicbuzz.blogspot.com. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ "Everything Breaks Down and Becomes Something New". Facebook.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ "Grammy-nominated artist Matt Morris to perform at MUW Wednesday" (Press release). Mississippi University for Women. February 2, 2004. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ "Club Notes: Ex-Muskateer Matt Morris". Dailycamera.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ "Matt Morris : News". Tennmanrecords.com. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ Fusilli, Jim (April 14, 2010). "From Mouseketeer To Balladeer". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
- ^ Caldwell, Patrick (March 1, 2010). "Austin TX music: Music listings, bands, music news, reviews, SXSW and ACL". Austin360.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ Billboard Charts
- ^ Herrera, Dave (July 9, 2010). "A first look at the new Matt Morris video for "Live Forever"". Blogs.westword.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ "Sex Therapy – Robin Thicke". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ ChristinaMultimedia Staff. "Christina Statistics – Can´t Hold Us Down Lyrics". ChristinaMultimedia. Retrieved December 14, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ ChristinaMultimedia Staff. "Christina Statistics – Walk Away Lyrics". ChristinaMultimedia. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ ChristinaMultimedia Staff. "Christina Statistics – Infatuation Lyrics". ChristinaMultimedia. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ ChristinaMultimedia Staff. "Christina Statistics – Loving Me 4 Me Lyrics". ChristinaMultimedia. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ ChristinaMultimedia Staff. "Christina Statistics – Underappreciated Lyrics". ChristinaMultimedia. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "Welcoming Fr. Matthew David Morris - All Saints Episcopal Church".
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=2289398088034923
- ^ a b "Coming Out of the Priesthood". June 10, 2023.
- ^ https://files.constantcontact.com/9dde8b84601/27533cdd-3a8a-4f1d-999f-cc87c4b7cd40.pdf
- ^ Tsai, Catherine (January 12, 2010). "Matt Morris – Colorado's Justin Timberlake?". The Huffington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ^ "The Road Ahead: Being Matt Morris Again". BishopInTheGrove.com. January 1, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
As many of you know, I have two names. There is the name you know me by, Teo Bishop; a name which I chose for myself several years back, and one that I took as my legal name last year. There is also the name which I've performed under for most of my life, Matt Morris.
- ^ Matthew David Morris [@MattMorris] (March 28, 2014). "2 years ago I legally changed my name to @TeoBishop. Today I changed it back, & gave myself the middle name, David. Matthew David Morris" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
- Official website
- Matt Morris at AllMusic
- Biography for Matt Morris at IMDb
- Teo on HuffPost Religion