Morris Pleasure
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Morris Pleasure | |
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| Birth name | Morris Joseph Pleasure |
| Also known as | Mo Pleasure |
| Born | July 12, 1962 Hartford, Connecticut, United States |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Watersign Media |
| Website | mopleasure |
Morris "Mo" Joseph Pleasure (born July 12, 1962) is an American composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and touring musician (Sideman). Pleasure plays piano, bass, trumpet, and guitar, in genres that include pop, funk, jazz, R&B, soul, Brazilian, and classical music. Pleasure holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Connecticut (1986). He has recorded and performed with artists such as Ray Charles, Najee, George Duke, Earth, Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Peter Cetera, David Foster, Bette Midler and others. Pleasure also appeared in the 2009 Michael Jackson documentary This Is It and Janet Jackson's film Janet: Live in Hawaii.
History
Pleasure was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His parents Robert and Evelyn Pleasure were originally from Louisiana, but moved to Hartford so Robert could attend Yale Divinity School from which he graduated in 1961. The family then moved to Guilford, Connecticut when young Pleasure was 7 years old. Pleasure began playing piano at age four and studied piano under Carol Wright from age seven to 17.
Frequent trips to Louisiana to visit family gave Pleasure a deep exposure to and appreciation for Gospel music as many of his relatives were active in church, and gospel music was the soundtrack of their lives. And it was on these trips that he also experienced first hand the inequalities of a still segregated south. A black family traveling through the south in those times could not stop at a hotel for the night, so the family would make these trips nonstop.
By the time Pleasure was a teenager, he had become proficient in trumpet, guitar, drums and violin as well. He composed his first song at age 12. He accompanied his father (an accomplished tenor) at all the Guilford high school's graduations from 1975–80 and was active in his high school's music programs. Pleasure holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Connecticut (1986)
Some of his main influences for playing piano/keyboards include George Duke, Joe Sample, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Hancock, Donald Blackman, and Chick Corea. Also, Verdine White, Chuck Rainey, James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorious, Bootsy Collins, and Chuck Rainey had a strong impact on Pleasure's love for the bass and his approach to playing it.
Career
Pleasure started his career as a bassist in 1986 when he became a member of Ray Charles' orchestra. He went on to play on Najee's 1990 album Tokyo Blue, Everette Harp's 1992 self titled LP and Stanley Clarke's 1993 album Live at the Greek.[1] During 1993 Pleasure joined Earth, Wind & Fire as the band's musical director.[2]
He later featured on Najee 's 1994 LP Share My World and Marion Meadows' 1994 album Forbidden Fruit. Pleasure then guested on jazz group Urban Knights's 1997 LP Urban Knights II, Gerald Albright's 1997 album Life To Love and produced on George Howard's 1998 LP Midnight Mood.[1]
After nine years with EWF, Pleasure went on to play on Janet Jackson's All For You tour and her 2002 feature film Janet: Live in Hawaii.[3][2] He then guested on Boney James's 2004 album Pure and the 2004 Jimi Hendrix tribute album Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix.[1]
Pleasure has also played with artists such as George Duke, Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Peter Cetera, Bette Midler and David Foster. Pleasure went on to perform on Michael Jackson's 2009 feature film This Is It.[2]
Morris is a spokesperson for Yamaha keyboards.[4]
Personal life
He has devoted time to philanthropic efforts including fundraising for the Guilford ABC Program and Guilford High School music programs and co-founded "We R 1 Voice" with his wife Lori in 2013.[5][6]
Discography
- Elements of Pleasure (2004) Watersign Records
- Devoted Spirits: A Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire (2004) Thump Records
References
- ^ a b c "Morris Pleasure". allmusic.com.
- ^ a b c Louie, Jones (August 4, 2009). "Interview with Mo Pleasure". blogtalkradio.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
- ^ "Janet Jackson Live in Hawaii". imdb.com. August 1, 2002. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
- ^ "Mo Pleasure – Profile for Yamaha". yamaha.com. January 15, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
- ^ "WeR1Voice". carvercenterct.org. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ "WeR1Voice". WeR1Voice.com. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
External links
| International | |
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| Academics | |
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Musicians from Hartford, Connecticut
- American bass guitarists
- American jazz composers
- Male jazz composers
- American jazz pianists
- American male pianists
- American keyboardists
- American multi-instrumentalists
- American music arrangers
- American pop pianists
- American trumpeters
- American male trumpeters
- Music directors
- Guitarists from Connecticut
- University of Connecticut alumni
- 20th-century American bass guitarists
- 20th-century American pianists
- 21st-century trumpeters
- American male bass guitarists
- Jazz musicians from Connecticut
- 21st-century American pianists
- 20th-century male musicians
- 21st-century male musicians