Duane Morris, aka DMORR

Duane Morris, better known as DMORR, hails from Cleveland, OH. His musical journey began in the 4th grade when he picked up the trumpet after moving to Cleveland Heights, OH. Duane continued playing through the 9th grade but, like many young musicians, traded the trumpet for football at Cleveland Heights High School.

Growing up, Duane immersed himself in jazz, playing along with his father’s extensive reel-to-reel jazz collection, which included legends like Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, and many others. Mimicking the greats became his early practice routine. Among his favorite trumpeters were Tom Browne, Miles Davis, and Roy Hargrove. However, his greatest influence was his father, Donald Morris. Known as the "Boogie Woogie Man" during his youth for his drum prowess, Donald had a celebrated career as a U.S. Army Warrant Officer and later with the Urban League of Greater Cleveland. After picking up the drums again, Donald became an active performer with the Jessie Dandy Jazz Trio and was considered a local legend in Cleveland’s gospel and jazz scenes.

Duane's musical family extends beyond Cleveland; his brother, based in Philadelphia, PA, is a professional acoustic bass player.

Duane took his passion for music with him to Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in North Carolina, where he began playing trumpet at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, thanks to Reverend Gray, who gave him his first opportunity to perform and sing. Duane also joined the university’s gospel choir and played trumpet for Chris Gray and the Love Center District Choir. After graduating from WSSU, Duane returned to Cleveland and started his professional career with Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four accounting firms.

While continuing his musical pursuits, Duane played for several churches and met saxophonist Billy Suddeth at Mt. Zion, a musician with whom he shared a mutual passion for the keyboard. Inspired by Billy and a piano course he took at Cuyahoga Community College, Duane began exploring songwriting. His first recital, featuring an original composition, earned praise from Dr. Delores White. That moment sparked a prolific songwriting career, resulting in over 700 compositions spanning multiple genres.

DMORR’s signature sound blends R&B, jazz, and funk, though his versatility extends to other styles. A skilled multi-instrumentalist, DMORR plays piano, bass guitar, trumpet, and flugelhorn.

Today, DMORR is a registered BMI songwriter with his own publishing company, Red Fox Media Publishing Group, and has additional works published through Music of the Seas Music Publishing, with 40 songs in their catalog.

Discography:

• Philadelphia Freedom – 2008
• The Black Experience Vol. I – 2021
• A Christmas Waltz (CD-only release) – 2022
• The Light (feat. Layla Alexandra) – Single, 2021
• Heartbeat of It All – Single, 2021

Upcoming Albums (Releasing November 15, 2024):

• Voyage I – R&B, Jazz Funk, Pop
• Voyage II – R&B, Jazz Funk, Pop, Hip-Hop
• A Country Mile – Country Originals and Blues

With a deep catalog and a passion that continues to grow, DMORR is poised to leave an enduring mark across multiple genres.