Obit: Bill Morrissey (1951-2011)

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 01:38 PM

I love his soft guitar pickin. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 01:22 PM

"Handsome Molly"
"Robert Johnson"
"Long Gone"

I'm going to miss Bill.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: GUEST,Claire Curtis
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 12:28 PM

What a shock - I hadn't heard much of Bill in a while, but I remember him fondly from the Old Stone Church, back when I lived in Newmarket. Much too young for this. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: C. Ham
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 12:27 PM

Mike Regenstreif writes about Bill Morrissey on the Folk Roots/Folk Branches blo

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: olddude
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 11:21 AM

Awful news, God Bless you Bill RIP .. just awful news

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: topical tom
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 11:06 AM

All my sympathy to his family and friends. RIP, Bill.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: GUEST,Joe Simes
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 10:59 AM

Bill came down to see Archie Fisher at the club a while back and we were trying to set up a gig for him. Such a shock and a great loss.

RIP Bill!

Joe

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 10:47 AM

http://www.myspace.com/billmorrissey/music/songs/will-you-be-my-rose-81012338

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 10:40 AM

Bill and Archie Fisher had a mutual admiration and respect for each other. I remember once Bill drove all the way up from New Hampshire to see Archie for the first time, at Arnold Greenberg's "Left Bank Cafe" in Blue Hill, Maine. We had a very enjoyable visit sitting on the steps in the cafe.

One of the very few cds that survived the fire that burned down our house was Bill's "Night Train", on which "Birches" appears.

Listen to his tender, tough songs here:http://www.myspace.com/billmorrissey/music/songs/time-to-go-home-81011063

"It's Time to Go Home" has me in tears today.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: Beer
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 10:38 AM

Very sad indeed. Sympathies to his family and love ones.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: Crowhugger
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 10:23 AM

Just went to explore the link to Birches and some other songs. It's my loss that I am introduced to him at the end of his life (so much music, so little time). Great songs. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 10:13 AM

Tom (Curmudgeon) had known him a long time when I came on the scene in 1980. I knew Bill mostly from the Stone Church Sunday hoots in the early '80s when Tom was often hootmeister.

Bill's patter in between songs was even better than the songs themselves, those early songs about kids named "Jennifer, Jessica and Jason / Just like every kid across the nation." I often opined to one of the owners of the Stone Church, Ellie O'Conner, that his whole set should be taped and preserved -- especially the local humor in between songs.

Bill moved away from Newmarket, the "small town on the river" and the Seacoast New Hampshire music scene.

The last time we saw him to talk to was a few years ago when Cuzin Richard put together a New Hampshire Folk Festival on the stage at the Portsmouth Music Hall and our "Press Room Gang" had a spot. Had a bit of a chance to talk to Bill both at the party at Celtic Crossing before the show and in the green room at the Music Hall.

This is just such a surprise...

Linn

Subject: RE: Obit: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 09:55 AM

Sad news.

We booked Bill several times at the old Portland Folk Club in the 1980's and got to hang out with him before and afterwards. Bill invented what I would call "The New England Blues," ballads about blue-collar or rural characters whose lives took odd but familiar turns. Now, Bill has joined with one of his own darker ballads. Damn!

I always loved "Snow Outside the MIll" but "Birches" was also a fine song.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 09:26 AM

Bill's Facebook page talks about it.

I met him once. Gracious guy. And I love Birches

RIP, Bill

Subject: RE: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 09:23 AM

Thanks, Rob McCausland. The link Rob gave says :
***********************************
"Got word from Bill's brother Tom in Phillie last nite.... Bill Morrissey Died in a motel room in Georgia yesterday... an autopsy will be performed today.

from his manager
"Several people have called and emailed asking me to post under Bill's account as they aren't sure that all know. Very sad to say that Bill has passed away. I know that he is finally at peace but it is an extremely sad thing."

*****************************************

I'm so sad. Warm regards to Bill's family and friends, and to Ellen Karas. Thank you for all you did to help Bill keep on living and writing and singing.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: GUEST,Rob McCausland
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 08:53 AM

Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: RIP Bill Morrissey http://bit.ly/qdJw78

also now on Wikipedia and Facebook

so sad ~ deepest sympathies to his family and friends ~

Subject: RE: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:15 AM

I'm not finding any confirmation of this report. I see no listed gigs past the 16th July, no news items. I hope 'Catter Guest, David E. will return to shed some light.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 06:09 AM

Guest, David E.- Please, what is your source for this shocking news?

Maeve

Subject: Bill Morrissey 1951-2011
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 03:51 AM

Songwriter, guitar picker and author Bill Morrissey passed away earlier this evening while on tour. Another great one gone. Rest now Bill.

David E.