Michael McMorrow
Michael McMorrow is a composer, a recording artist and the producer of some of Washington State’s most prestigious and beneficial music events. If you are involved in the Northwest music community, you may know him; if not, you probably have a friend who does because McMorrow’s musical thread is woven wildly throughout it. His contributions to Seattle’s music scene and community runs deep from up-and-coming artists to world renown superstars; from community events to benefits for national and international organizations. McMorrow’s work captures both a rich musical tapestry along with a unique perspective of the Seattle cultural landscape. As a respected musician and Seattle native, he has blended those perspectives to build projects that bring both the diverse musical community and Seattle’s richly textured communities and neighborhoods together.
“As a musician and Northwest native there is no greater honor. Producing this significant Northwest event honoring The Beatles while working alongside the people who brought The Beatles to Seattle in 1964 was a watershed moment.” said Producer and “Get Back” Music Director Michael McMorrow. “This was such a big moment in Northwest music history,”
NBC affiliate KING 5 TV Seattle’s Meegan Black and Synergia Northwest Producer and Music Director Michael S McMorrow on-stage May 2012 Paramount Theatre, Seattle WA
As Executive Producer and Musical Director, Michael produces Synergia Northwest. His vision and drive draws world-class performers to the annual concerts.
In August of 2014 McMorrow partnered with the City of Seattle, Seattle Center and Seattle’s fabled opera house Marion McCaw Hall as Executive Producer and Music Director for the historic 50th Anniversary of the Beatles in Seattle; 50 years after the Fab Four embedded themselves into the Northwest’s musical culture and Beatlemania swept the nation.
Michael enlisted iconic disc jockey Pat O’Day, who introduced The Beatles on stage at the Seattle Center Coliseum’s first ever concert – 50 years ago – to host the event. This historic sold-out concert featured an all-star cast of emerging and iconic northwest musicians spanning generations paying homage to the lads from Liverpool by performing the original set The Beatles performed at the 1964 Seattle Coliseum concert followed by “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” performed in its entirety with special musical guests paying tribute to the iconic album backed by the 50 piece Synergia Northwest Orchestra.
Following the event the Foo Fighters enlisted McMorrow as a Creative Consultant for the eight-part documentary series, called “Sonic Highways”, that frontman Dave Grohl directed. The series premiered on HBO last month. “Sonic Highways” was recorded in eight different iconic studios in eight different cities over the course of a year.
His first ventures in developing a long list on impactful events began not long after his college days Central Washington University. And who knew back then, that one of them would result in a behind-the-scene reference in a book currently on the New York Times Best-Sellers List. This would start in 1991, when he produced the internationally documented Support The Troops Concert for Peace Benefit at Paramount Theatre. The event aided the International and American Red Cross during the first Gulf War Crisis.
McMorrow’s work captures both a rich musical tapestry along with a unique perspective of the Seattle cultural landscape.
Among the many artists performing were Chris Cornell, Alice in Chains, McMorrow’s own band The Yarddogs, Jim Page, and Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson debuted their newly formed band The Lovemongers that night. Their process of forming the band for the event, developing the music for the event and experiencing a new take on their music from performing that night is covered in Heart’s new book ‘Kicking and Dreaming’ . McMorrow was unaware at the time that getting them involved in the concert would go on to have such a profound impact on the way that Heart would approach its music from then on.
Michael S McMorrow performing August 23, 2014 Seattle’s historic Beatles 50th Anniversary, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle WA
In 1997, he, along with Brendan Hill of the Grammy-award winning rock band Blues Traveler, founded the nationally recognized rock band Stolen Ogre. The two met while both performing on the H.O.R.D.E. Festival that featured artist such as Dave Matthews Band, Lenny Kravitz, Natalie Merchant and Blues Traveler. Along with performing, Michael also produced and wrote for the band. In 2005, Stolen Ogre was named National Relix Magazine Jamoff Winner with the McMorrow composed “Icing”. The band successfully garnered national college radio airplay and in 2006 was highlighted as “Top Band To Watch,” among some of the best unsigned bands in the country.
With inspiration from one of his three sons and concern for the rich legacy of youth orchestras and music in the schools in the Northwest, Michael conceived and developed Synergia Northwest. Now as executive producer and musical director.
The series, now in its sixth year always includes plenty of rock star power, including Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters), Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains), legendary drummer Alan White (YES, John Lennon, George Harrision) Michael Shrieve (Santana), , Queensryche, Tracy Bonham, members of Heart, Blues Traveler and others and a host of well-known area musicians. The Synergia Northwest Orchestra — music teachers, freelancers, college students and dedicated amateurs and All State high school classical musicians— back the rock acts and fill the interludes with classical music. The experience of performing with the orchestra has received heartfelt reviews by the artists and many offers of returning again.
As word of Synergia Northwest and his work spread, in 2011 McMorrow was appointed as Musical Director for Broadway Choreographer Joey McKneely from West Side Story for STG’S 13th Annual “DANCE This”. McKneely studied under Jerome Robbins and reproduced and rejuvenated the choreography for the Tony Award Winning Broadway revival that opened in 2009 as well as directed several major productions of West Side Story around the world.
Following the event the Foo Fighters enlisted McMorrow as a Creative Consultant for the eight-part documentary series, called “Sonic Highways”, that frontman Dave Grohl directed. The series premiered on HBO last month. “Sonic Highways” was recorded in eight different iconic studios in eight different cities over the course of a year.
STG invited McMorrow back in 2013 to be the Music Director for Jennie Ford, Tour Captain and Choreographer of Broadway’s Evita. Michael recruited student musicians from Seattle’s Kentridge High School to perform in the pit orchestra alongside professional orchestra players.
Michael is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, (GRAMMYS). He was most recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Seattle Music Partners. Seattle Music Partners provides a free after school music program for under-served elementary school students in Seattle’s Central District with skilled high school, college-aged and community musicians volunteering as music tutors. McMorrow was also a main proponent in getting legislation passed in Washington State clearing the way for Music Aid Northwest’s Music Matters License plate fundraising initiative that helps support school music programs in Washington State through its sales.
Michael continues to pursue outlets to apply his experience in both the Northwest music community, and overall with community building projects in Seattle while underway with the planning of Synergia Northwest 2015 concert at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. He continues to write, record and perform on various projects. and as always with McMorrow, new musical threads are woven and the good outcome continues.