Let Me Sing and I’m Happy: The Memoir and Handbook of a Singing Actress by Joan Morris is the history of an actress who sings popular songs. It is also a handbook detailing Joan's approach to bringing the song to life. Learn more & purchase now!

Appearances

Previous events

Bolcom & Morris - "Laughter at the Happy Hour" Virtual Event

This edition of "Laughter at the Happy Hour" features Joan Morris, William Bolcom, William Sharp, Amy Burton and John Musto in a concert video presented in 2012 at Thayer Hall in Los Angeles, California. Enjoy songs from The Great American Songbook graciously shared by the SongFest Art Song Festival at Colburn as we celebrate Joan Morris's birthday on February 10! "One thing I loved about the Hobbit books," Joan says, "is that on their birthdays, hobbits give presents to other people instead. So that's what this program will be--my birthday present to our audience!" A very special archival performance from these important and expressive artists! 5:30 pm EST.

Bolcom & Morris - "Laughter at the Happy Hour" Virtual Event

Live Stream from Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor, Michigan

"Laughter at the Happy Hour" is more songs and tales of a lifetime of cabaret adventures with Bolcom & Morris, streamed live by Kerrytown Concert House and available online afterwards. Tune into "Live at the 415" at 5:30 PM EDT at https://www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com/live-at-the-415/ More info: https://www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com/month/october-2020/laughter-at-the-happy-hour/

Bolcom & Morris - "Live at the Happy Hour" Virtual Event

The next installment of the Kerrytown Concert Hall "Conversation Concerts" debuts this week! LAUGHTER AT THE HAPPY HOUR is all about tales and tunes from the world of cabaret. BOLCOM & MORRIS will regale us with some of their favorite songs and stories from a lifetime of performing together. Watch on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/kerrytownconcerthouse or on Kerrytown Concert House's website at kerrytownconcerthouse.com/live-at-the-415/

Welcome

Traversing Broadway, vaudeville and music hall, performing music from the ragtime era to the end of the 20th century, the duo of William Bolcom and Joan Morris have delighted audiences across the United States and around the world since 1973.

At the piano, composer and raconteur William Bolcom charms the audience with his engaging patter. One of the driving forces behind the ragtime revival that began in the 1970s, he is also the composer of the poignant “Graceful Ghost Rag.” As an accompanist, his lively and harmonically rich touch is impeccably tuned to every nuance of Joan Morris’s voice.

Chanteuse Joan Morris brings out a veritable cast of characters to sing each of her songs — from a curious little kid (“Love in the Thirties”) to a world-weary lover (“Toothbrush Time”) to an unforgettable dowager waging battle at the Ladies Club with her recipe for “Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise.” According to the Chicago Tribune, “She projects not just a song, but the character singing it, and gives that character her own irresistibly funny and winning personality.”

The duo has 25 recordings to their credit, from their Grammy-nominated debut “After the Ball” to recent collections of songs by Yip Harburg, Gus Kahn and Arnold Weinstein/William Bolcom. Their newest CD, Autumn Leaves, is a collection of 21 popular cabaret songs, including “Am I Blue,” “Swinging on a Star,” “Can’t We Be Friends,” and “As Time Goes By.” 

"Bolcom and Morris may be the best thing to happen to American popular song since the invention of sheet music." — The Chicago Sun-Times

 "Together the couple is, to borrow the title of an early Bolcom opera, 'dynamite tonight.' His brilliantly propulsive, imaginative embellished pianism provides her with a strong rhythmic framework. And Morris plumbs every number for its specific emotional content." — The San Francisco Examiner

Updates

A hint of "April in Paris" 

“April in Paris” is the theme for the Kerrytown Concert House April 2021 Laughter at the Happy Hour concert with the second installment of excerpts from "An Evening of Popular Song," presented in 2012 at Thayer Hall in Los Angeles, California, featuring the iconic cabaret duo, William Bolcom & Joan Morris joined by talented friends, composer/pianist John Musto, soprano Amy Burton and baritone William Sharp. The program includes more songs from The Great American Songbook, but also celebrates French cabaret artists and composers, as well. A very special archival performance from these important and expressive artists!

 

Another Round of "Laughter at the Happy Hour"! 

Celebrate Joan's birthday on February 10 with another edition of Laughter at the Happy Hour! 

February 10th is Joan Morris’s birthday, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate it than to feature Joan and Bill for another next installment of Laughter at the Happy Hour. “One thing I loved about the Hobbit books,” Joan says, “is that on their birthdays, hobbits give presents to other people instead. So that’s what this program will be–my birthday present to our audience!” 

Joan and Bill, along with the SongFest Art Song Festival at Colburn, have graciously shared a concert video with us so that we can share it with you for Joan’s birthday. These excerpts from An Evening of Popular Song, presented in 2012 at Thayer Hall in Los Angeles, California, include songs from The Great American Songbook and feature Joan and Bill, but also, baritone William Sharp, soprano Amy Burton and pianist/composer, John Musto. A very special archival performance from these important and expressive artists!

Tune into "Live at the 415" at  5:30 PM EDT on February 10, 2021 at:https://www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com/live-at-the-415/

Laughter at the Happy Hour with BOLCOM & MORRIS  

UPDATE: Another performance of LAUGHTER AT THE HAPPY HOUR is scheduled for October 29!  --- On Sept. 24, Kerrytown Concert House's new virtual series, Live at the 415, featured Bolcom and Morris presenting some of their favorite songs and stories from a lifetime of performing together in a show called "Laughter at the Happy Hour."

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Tune In to Joan Morris Radio 

Joan now has her own "station" on Pandora! If you're not a Pandora user already, it's easy and free. It's an online music streaming service that will play music tailored to your musical interests. Click on the Pandora link to listen on your computer or download the Pandora app for iPhones and Android phones.

Joan Morris Radio won't just play songs featuring her own music - it will also bring you a play list of other music with similar qualities - melody, harmony, rhythm, form, composition and lyrics. You can expect a mix of ragtime, jazz, and vocal tunes - all selected by Pandora's magical "Music Genome" project to find music you will enjoy.

Let me sing and I'm happy! 

Let Me Sing and I’m Happy: The Memoir and Handbook of a Singing Actress by Joan Morris is the history of an actress who sings popular songs. It is also a handbook detailing Joan's approach to bringing the song to life.

Read more