George Morrison Sr Park

George Morrison was born in Fayette, Missouri, in 1891. He was born to a music family. His mother was a pianist and his father a champion fiddler. The family moved to Colorado during George’s youth. He attended school in Boulder, CO. He showed promise in the musical arts at a young age. He studied violin. In 1911, Morrison married a well-known Denver dancer, Miss Willa May.

After high school, Morrison continued playing violin. He worked with the Denver Civic Symphony Orchestra. He was offered a full ride scholarship to the New England Conservatory, but declined it. Instead he opted to go to Columbia Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He paid his way by playing in a jazz band at the Panama Cabaret on 34th and State Streets. His music caught the eye of Dave Peyton of the Grand Theatre. Peyton talked Morrison into playing for him on top of school and his job at Panama Cabaret.

After school he recorded for Columbia Records and toured Europe. He played for King George and Queen Mary. He also toured Mexico, Canada and parts of the U.S. By the mid 1920s he was a well known musician.

"Morrison’s touring entourage included Cuthbert Byrd, Desdamona and Leo Davis, Hattie McDaniel, Eugene Montgomery, Theodore Morris, Jimmy Lunceford, and Andy Kirk. Other well-known musicians with whom he shared an affiliation include Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Scott Joplin, Al Jolson, Jelly Roll Morton, Tommy Dorsey, Paul Whiteman, and Quincy Jones."

In his off time he gave complimentary music lessons to families that couldn’t afford them. He was a volunteer music teacher at Whittier Elementary, Cole Junior High, and Manual High School. He was an icon in Denver’s African American Community. 

The park is named in his honor. It features a long greenbelt, along a winding pathway. There is a place to picnic and areas for leisure. There is also a commemorative red stone memorial along with a portrait of the George Morrison's life. 

1. Haddad, Tammi E. George Morrison Sr Papers. Denver Public Library. Published September 1st 2002. Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library.