Loumell Morgan

A legendary figure from the early days of the North Carolina music scene, pianist Loumell Morgan was born in the state's capital and may have been as young as 15 when he made his professional debut in an ensemble led by C.S. Belton. He played in the Capital City Aces even earlier than that; learned how to swing and entertain in the late '30s with bandleaders such as Baron Lee and Tiny Bradshaw; was able to hold his own in the frantic, demented company of Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart; and by the '40s had his own piano trio going strong. While hardly as well known as similar c...