Gary Morris

Gary Gwyn Morris was born on December 7, 1948, in Fort Worth, Texas. He spent his early childhood in Fort Worth before his family moved to North Richland Hills, Texas, in the late 1950s. Morris pursued a scholarship at Cisco Junior College in Texas, where he played four sports. He transitioned from college sports to focus on singing after a successful impromptu performance in a Colorado Springs nightclub. In the early 1970s, Morris performed in nightclubs in Denver, Colorado, and composed commercial jingles for Frontier Airlines. His efforts led to him singing at fundraisers for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign, culminating in a performance at the White House following Carter’s election. During this performance, Morris connected with Nashville country music producer Norro Wilson, who subsequently signed him to Warner Bros. Records in 1980.

Morris’s recording career began to establish momentum with “Headed for a Heartache,” which reached number 8 on the country chart in late 1981. This was followed by his 1983 album, “Why Lady Why,” which garnered him further recognition, particularly for his rendition of “Wind Beneath My Wings.” The album also featured other successful singles such as “The Love She Found in Me,” “Velvet Chains,” and the title track, all reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. He also had a top 10 duet with Lynn Anderson, “You’re Welcome to Tonight.” Throughout the mid-1980s, Morris achieved five number 1 country hits, including “Baby Bye Bye” (1985), “I’ll Never Stop Loving You,” “100% Chance of Rain,” and “Leave Me Lonely.” He also scored a chart-topping duet with Crystal Gayle, “Makin’ Up For Lost Time (The Dallas Lovers Song).”

Beyond his musical achievements, Morris developed an acting career. He performed on Broadway as Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables,” a role that contributed to a platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning symphonic recording of the musical. He also appeared in a production of Puccini’s opera, “La Bohème,” and had a recurring role on the television series “The Colbys” as Wayne Masterson in 1986. In the 1990s, he participated in a PBS special concert in Moscow, Russia, and hosted and produced TNN’s “The North American Sportsman.” He appeared in an episode of “Designing Women” in 1992 and continued to release music, including the 2017 album “Sense of Pride.” Morris remains active in touring and performing, and his career is recognized with inductions into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.