Cary Morin

Biography

Cary Lewis Morin is an American singer, songwriter, and fingerstyle guitarist born in Billings, Montana, and now based in Fort Collins, Colorado.[1][2] A member of the Crow Nation with Assiniboine Sioux and Black heritage, Morin grew up in Great Falls, Montana, near the Crow Reservation in a household steeped in diverse musical influences ranging from traditional Crow music to contemporary rock, country, and pop.[3][4] He began his musical journey at age five when his mother arranged piano lessons by trading laundry services with a neighbor, though he gravitated toward learning songs by ear from the radio rather than formal instruction. At age 10, he picked up the guitar and never looked back, recognizing early that music would be his life's calling.[4] His family's cultural heritage profoundly shaped his artistic vision, particularly his grandfather's brother Thomas Yellowtail, the spiritual leader and Sun Dance Chief of the Crow Nation, whose wisdom and presence at his early performances inspired Morin's songwriting and worldview.

Throughout his career, Morin has developed a distinctive musical style characterized as "acoustic Native Americana" that seamlessly blends bluegrass, blues, jazz, reggae, folk, and rock elements.[1][3] His musical influences include Neil Young, Bob Marley, and Jimi Hendrix, and he has been compared to Oklahoma guitarist Jesse Ed Davis for his innovative approach to fingerstyle playing.[2] Beginning in the late 1980s, Morin performed in local country, rock, and bluegrass bands as a teenager, then formed the three-piece dance band The Atoll in 1989, which gained recognition as "Best of Colorado" on Denver's KMGH-TV.[1] He later collaborated with Pura Fé on multiple recordings and has performed as a solo artist, with his wife Celeste Di Iorio in the Cary Morin Duo, and with his band Ghost Dog, which offers diverse musical arrangements showcasing his versatility.[2][4]

Morin's international touring career has established him as a major figure in contemporary Native American music, performing at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Paris Jazz Festival, and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.[1][3] His discography spans from 1993's Circle of Friends through his most recent album Innocent Allies (2024), with notable releases including Cradle to the Grave (2017), When I Rise (2018), and Dockside Saints (2020).[1] He has received numerous accolades including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fort Collins Music Association, two Indigenous Music Awards for Best Blues Album, an Independent Music Award, and recognition from NPR Music for his live performance of "Jug In The Water" as one of the best live sessions of 2020.[1] Beyond music, Morin co-authored Turtle Island, a 50-member stage production that played to sold-out audiences in Northern Colorado for two consecutive years, demonstrating his commitment to cultural storytelling and community engagement.[1]

Fun Facts

• Morin's mother arranged his first piano lessons by trading laundry services with a neighbor when he was in kindergarten, demonstrating early family support for his musical education.[4]
• NPR Music selected Morin's live performance of 'Jug In The Water' as one of the best live sessions of 2020, bringing national recognition to his artistry.[1]
• Morin co-authored and performed in Tribe at the Celebrity Theater and co-authored Turtle Island, a 50-member stage production that played to sold-out audiences in Northern Colorado for two consecutive years, showcasing his commitment to large-scale cultural storytelling.[1]
• As a senior studio student at CMR High School, Morin taught pottery workshops before graduating in 1981, demonstrating artistic talents beyond music.[1]

Associated Acts

• Cary Morin & Ghost Dog - eponymous, lead vocals, original, principal
• Cary Morin & Ghost Dog - acoustic guitar, eponymous, original, principal

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Thomas Yellowtail - Morin's great-uncle and spiritual leader of the Crow Nation; his wisdom and presence at Morin's early performances profoundly influenced his songwriting and artistic vision (Influenced overall artistic philosophy and cultural grounding) [Childhood through early career]
• Pura Fé - Visionary artist and founder of Ulali who mentored Morin early in his career; Morin worked on two to three of her records and toured with her (Multiple Pura Fé recordings and touring) [Early-to-mid career]

Key Collaborators

• Celeste Di Iorio - Morin's wife and frequent musical partner; performs with him in the Cary Morin Duo and the band Cary Morin & Ghost Dog (Cary Morin Duo, Cary Morin & Ghost Dog) [Ongoing]
• The Atoll - Three-piece dance band formed by Morin in 1989; featured on Denver's KMGH-TV as 'Best of Colorado' (The Atoll performances and recordings) [1989 onwards]
• Young Ancients - Musical ensemble in which Morin performs as a member (Young Ancients performances) [Career]
• Kodō - Japanese taiko drumming ensemble; Morin performed as a guest performer with the group (Guest performances with Kodō) [Career]

Artists Influenced

• David Bromberg - Renowned guitarist who has publicly praised Morin's unique style, technique, and songwriting abilities (General artistic recognition and influence) [Career]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. When the Levee Breaks (Tiny Town)
2. Prisoner (Together)
3. Tiny Town (Tiny Town)
4. Blue Delta Home (Dockside Saints)
5. When I Rise (When I Rise)
6. Obstacles to Negotiate (Tiny Town)
7. Wrong Side of the Law (Tiny Town)
8. Nobody Gotta Know (Dockside Saints)
9. Yellow Dog Blues (Tiny Town)
10. Cradle to the Grave (Cradle to the Grave)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #americana