My Story

My Story

 

Morris E. Duenow is a native Minnesotan, and Florida resident since 1987.  You'll find him living in St. Augustine, Florida in a happy kind of way.  He maintains he's too old to grow up and  does not partake in Lutefisk, a favorite Minnesota holiday feast and tradition throughout the years.

The Journey

  • At age 11, MD started playing trumpet in elementary school. Drums were added in high school along with being selected to a specialty vocal/caroling ensemble.  These efforts continued through college.

Those Teen Times   

  • As a Minnesota teenager in the late 50's & early 60's, he joined the new wave of rock and roll players as a stand up drummer and lead singer with a local group, the Palatons of Alexandria, Minnesota.
  • College daze in various rock ensembles in The Twin Cities continued as a drummer and lead singer.

University of Minnesota

  • A music major at the University of Minnesota, primarily a classical school proceeded other adventures. 
  • Studied classical music, theory, composition, centering on vocal studies and liturgy, choral conducting, and music education.
  • Tenor operatic understudy continued with the Center Opera Company, later becoming The Minnesota Opera Company.

Milestones

    M.Ed. University of Minnesota

  • Subsequent musical expressions expanded into the classroom teaching band and choir ensembles in major Minnesota school systems in the '70's. Formed the first high school rock ensemble, Split Rock, Mpls. Schools 1972.
  • School administration and classroom music in Florida.
  • Military duties between 1968 and 1970 during the Viet Nam War included assignment in Administration Fifth Army Division, Ft. Knox, KY, and subsequent assigned duty as Director, the Ft. Knox Mens Chorus.
  • Various ensemble trios continued as a drummer while stationed in Kentucky.
  • Corporate Training Manager, Cardinal Retirement Villages of Ohio & Florida in the late eighties.
  • Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Staff Training Manager, Grants Development Office, and subsequent  Music Faculty staff duties, late eighties through 2009.
  • Featured soloist in group ensembles specializing in classical, American Standard and Jazz formats, Minnesota, Kentucky and Florida.
  • Numerous Country Club and restaurant piano/vocal appearances in Florida.
  • Trumpet and percussion performances in big band format at area festivals in Florida.
  • 2005 Jacksonville, FL. ESPN Super Bowl. Pre game production assistant with Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind featuring students from FSDB; a tribute show to former FSDB alum Ray Charles, featuring pop star Alicia Keys.
  • Former Chairman Minnesota Ethnic Dance Theater.

MUSIC

CLASSICAL STUDY

  • Classical voice pedagogy for five years under the vocal coaching of two highly prominent and requested voice teachers in Minneapolis.
  • Opera workshop, understudy tenor roles in major opera performances in Minnesota leading to countless classical solo and choral activities throughout Minnesota, Kentucky, and Florida.  
  • Musical languages applied range from singing English, Spanish, Italian and French. The German, Slavic and Eastern Europe languages, along with Chinese, Israeli and African languages have been applied in song form as well.

ROCK 'N' ROLL AND POULAR MUSIC STANDARDS TAPESTRY

  • The Palatons, The Chancellors, Jackson and Morris, Four To The Measure, Morris E. and Terry Lee and The Moderate Chop Ensemble are the primary major groups affiliated with or founded by MD from the early years of 1960 to present time.
  • Jazz Banquet, Jazz Lexicon featuring local vocalist Kay Nygaard, and later appearances as Morry Duenow: Jazz Therapy Group, were groups found on the club circuit in the Twin Cities in the 80's as well.

In a quaint format, expected musical styles on instruments/ vocals range from the great American Songbook, popular jazz standards, Rock 'N' Roll to Rhythm and Blues.  Bossa Nova rhythms along with some carribean flavor are tailor made musical tapestry to complete the music menu as planned.

MD has been featured in many disciplines on vocals, piano/keyboard, drums, Latin percussion, and trumpet in live format or in the recording studio.  He has been pleasing people in this arena over sixty years in clubs, special events and festivals.  Giving true meaning to:

Music made in the USA....and other fine places.

hip, hip hurray...it's ours just to say.......

 there'll be some jumpin' and jivin' ....

 on a happy v day........Burma Shave