Art Morrow

Career Highlights

Art Morrow studied piano (1930–35) with Rose Blackwell in Montreal. He began his career as a saxophonist and arranger with Johnny Holmes' dance band before serving in the Second World War (WWII) as leader of one of The Army Show's Tin Hat revues.

Art Morrow was an arranger (1946–55) for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) conductors John Adaskin, Giuseppe Agostini, Neil Chotem, Jean Deslauriers, Maurice Durieux, Henry Matthews, and Allan McIver. He served as music director and conductor (1951–66) for more than 25 CBC Montreal radio and TV shows, including “Sunshine Society” (1951–52), “Fiddle Joe's Yarns” (1951–54), “Songs Chez-Nous” (1952-55) with Alan Mills, “A Date with Fred Hill” (1953–56), “Cap-aux-Sorciers” (TV) (1955–57), “Music Hall” (TV) (1955–59), “Meet Mr. Morrow” (1958–60), “Variety Showcase” (1960–62), “Sheila Sings” (1962) with Sheila Graham, and “Music Scene” (1964–66).

After 1966, Art Morrow worked with Bob Hahn, played piano (1967–71) at the Queen Elizabeth and Bonaventure hotels (see Place Bonaventure) in Montreal, and wrote arrangements for the Nick Martin orchestra and for singer Danièle Dorice. In later years he held an administrative position with the Musicians' Guild of Montreal.

Art Morrow's compositions include the scores for the film Séraphin (1950) and the jazz ballet Postscript (1956, choreography by Brian Macdonald, performed for three seasons by the Montreal Theatre Ballet). He wrote the arrangements for two folksong anthologies by Alan Mills - Folk Songs for Young Folk and Chantons un Peu.