Dale Morris, the influential Nashville talent manager who helped guide the careers of Alabama and Kenny Chesney, has died at age 89. Click for More News
Morris passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by loved ones, according to his family.
“We’re so blessed to have had 90 years with him as the patriarch of our family,” grandson Zack Morris said in a statement. “Thank you to our music industry family and to his vast community of friends in Nashville, Boca and beyond for loving him all these many years.”
A fixture in Nashville’s music industry for nearly seven decades, Morris began his career as a songwriter before turning his attention to the business side of music. After landing Johnny Paycheck a Top 5 hit with “Don’t Monkey With Another Monkey’s Monkey,” Morris began building a career that would eventually reshape country music management and touring.
In 1979, Morris was introduced to Alabama while the group was performing at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. His company, Dale Morris & Associates, went on to help transform Alabama into one of the biggest acts in country music history.
Morris pushed for production and staging on a scale more commonly associated with major rock acts, helping Alabama become country music’s first true superstar band.
Over the years, Morris worked with numerous country artists, but another pivotal chapter came when producer Barry Beckett introduced him to Kenny Chesney.
Morris helped Chesney build one of country music’s most successful touring careers, including large-scale stadium tours and other groundbreaking live productions.
Clint Higham, president of Morris Higham Management, first joined Dale Morris & Associates while he was a student at Belmont University and later became Morris’ business partner.
“He was larger than life, and never met a dream he couldn’t build,” Higham said. “Dale Morris gave me my first internship, and I never wanted to go anywhere else. He saw things in people, in me, in Kenny, and inspired everyone to reach beyond what we thought possible.”
Higham called Morris’ death “the end of an era.”
Morris was inducted into the International Entertainment Buyers Association Hall of Fame in 2010. He also founded Morris Light & Sound, which became known for providing cutting-edge concert production for artists.
In 2018, Morris sold the Dale Morris Agency to Paradigm while maintaining autonomy for his agents. The agency later became known as The·Team.
Despite his many professional accomplishments, Morris’ family said he considered family his greatest priority.
Morris was married to his wife, Earline, for 68 years. Their son, Tim, preceded him in death. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Jennifer; grandchildren Zack, Colton, Nick and Kendall; and great-grandchildren Mary Dee and Gus.
“Nobody loved life, people, the chase more than Dale. But above all that, he loved his family most of all,” his family shared. “We will miss him every day and carry his love with us always.”
A Celebration of Life is planned for later this fall, with additional details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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