Morgana King

Biography

Maria Grazia Morgana Messina (June 4, 1930 – March 22, 2018), better known as Morgana King, was an American jazz singer and actress born in Pleasantville, New York, of Sicilian descent.[1][2] She began her professional singing career at age sixteen, performing in New York and Long Island hospitals and clubs for ex-service personnel.[2] Her breakthrough came in 1953 when a record label executive discovered her performing at a Greenwich Village nightclub, impressed by her unique phrasing and extraordinary four-octave contralto vocal range.[1][2] She was reportedly renamed "Morgana" by mob boss Frank Costello, who owned the Greenwich Village Inn where she worked.[2] Her first album, For You, For Me, For Evermore, was released in 1956, marking the beginning of a prolific recording career that would span decades.[1]

King's musical style was distinctive and innovative, characterized by what The New York Times described as "an astounding melange of humming, singing and vocalising, creating tapestries of supple sounds that float in the air, that slither sinuously around a melody, that dip down to some visceral foundation or soar softly off into the stratosphere as an ethereal mutter."[2] Her breakthrough hit came in 1964 with "A Taste of Honey," which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1965, though she lost to The Beatles.[2][4] She was among the first American artists to embrace bossa nova after discovering it during a trip to Brazil with her second husband, trombonist Willie Dennis.[2] King recorded over thirty albums throughout her career, working with labels including Mercury, Atlantic, Reprise, and Muse, with particular success in the 1970s and 1980s when she recorded nine albums for the Muse label.[3][4]

Beyond her music career, King achieved significant recognition as an actress, most notably playing Mama Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974).[5] She read Mario Puzo's novel two years before being cast without a screen test, and used hypnotherapy to prepare for the role.[2] Despite never achieving mainstream commercial success, King remained committed to her artistic integrity, famously stating: "I am a rebel. I am not a commercial artist. If I don't believe in something, I won't do it."[2] She toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and South America, performing at prestigious venues including the Blue Note, Cotton Club, and Rainbow Grill.[1] King passed away on March 22, 2018, leaving behind a legacy as a respected jazz vocalist whose innovative vocal techniques and artistic independence influenced generations of musicians.

Fun Facts

• At age 16, King performed at the Crystal Caverns nightclub in Washington, D.C., where she pretended to be Creole because few white performers worked there. When discovered, she admitted she was Sicilian, and the club owners accepted this, billing her as the 'Creole songbird from the Ramparts section of New Orleans.'[2]
• King was reportedly renamed 'Morgana' by mob boss Frank Costello, who owned the Greenwich Village Inn where she worked early in her career.[2]
• She used hypnotherapy to prepare for her role as Mama Corleone in The Godfather, programming and conditioning herself to become a member of the cast after reading Mario Puzo's novel two years before being cast.[2]
• Cole Porter wrote King a fan letter during her early career, yet the general public remained largely unaware of her work until her later breakthrough in the 1960s.[4]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Dinah Washington - Friendship and mentorship during King's teenage years while staying at the Dunbar Hotel in Washington, D.C. Washington served as a protective figure and professional guide. (General mentorship and professional guidance) [Late 1940s]
• Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday - Musical influences introduced to King by her first husband, jazz trumpeter Tony Fruscella. These artists shaped her jazz vocal approach. (General stylistic influence) [Late 1940s-1950s]
• Helen Morgan - Torch singer whose lead sheets were inherited by one of King's gay mentors and became the foundation for King's 1955 debut album. (Morgana King Sings the Blues (1955)) [1955]
• Frank Sinatra - Helped restore King's will to sing following personal tragedy by signing her to his Reprise label for three albums. (It's a Quiet Thing and two additional albums) [Late 1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Tony Fruscella - Jazz trumpeter and first husband who introduced King to bebop influences and performed with her early in her career. (Early recordings and performances) [1947-1956]
• Willie Dennis - Jazz trombonist and second husband with whom King discovered bossa nova during a trip to Brazil and collaborated musically. (Bossa nova recordings and performances) [1950s-1960s]
• Francis Ford Coppola - Film director who cast King in The Godfather films, providing her with significant acting opportunities. (The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974)) [1972-1974]
• Vince Mauro - King's manager who produced her comeback album New Beginnings, helping her return to recording after a period of relative silence. (New Beginnings) [1970s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. It's Only A Paper Moon (Sings The Blues)
2. Everything I Love (For You, For Me, Forevermore)
3. Sunny (Gemini Changes)
4. If You Could See Me Now (For You, For Me, Forevermore)
5. For You, For Me, For Evermore (For You, For Me, Forevermore)
6. Body And Soul (Sings The Blues)
7. Bill (Sings The Blues)
8. Down In The Depths (For You, For Me, Forevermore)
9. The Look of Love (From "Casino Royale") (Gemini Changes)
10. Frankie And Johnny (Sings The Blues)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia