Maria Grazia Morgana Messina (June 4, 1930 – March 22, 2018), better known as Morgana King, was an American jazz singer and actress.Liner notes by Joel Dorn – Morgana King album The Complete Reprise Recordings (2000).Liner notes by Ed Osborne – Morgana King re-issue album It's A Quite Thing (2006).Beverly Kenny Sings For Johnny Smith. Toshiba EMI Japan 1955 song "Moe's Blues", track listing 11. She began a professional singing career at sixteen years old. In her twenties, she was singing at a Greenwich Village nightclub when she was recognized for her unique phrasing and vocal range, described as a four-octave contralto range. She was signed to a label and began recording solo albums. She recorded dozens of albums well into the late 1990s.
King had her debut and breakout role in film as Mama Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974).Nichols, Peter M. The New York Times Guide to the Best 1000 Movies Ever Made (2004), p. 390; Maltin, Leonard Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide (2008), p. 530; She had roles in three additional films including her last performance in A Brooklyn State of Mind in 1997.
She was twice married to fellow jazz musicians, first to Tony Fruscella and later to Willie Dennis. King died on March 22, 2018, in Palm Springs, California.
Early life King was born Maria Grazia Morgana Messina in Pleasantville, New York. Her parents were from Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, Province of Catania, Sicily, Italy.Vernon Scott (May 3, 1971). Singer in 'Godfather' Role. The Deseret News She grew up in New York City with five siblings. Her father, who owned a coal and ice business, played the piano and guitar by ear.Leonard Feather & Ira Gitler. The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007) p. 385; "Morgana King Charms Her Audience With Style." New York Times, January 20, 1970 Her family experienced a difficult financial period after her father died.
Around the age of thirteen her vocal gifts were recognized when she was overheard singing the aria "I'll See You Again" from Noël Coward's operetta Bitter Sweet. At age 16 she developed a love for big bands. A scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music soon followed.
Singing debut Her professional singing career began at age sixteen as Morgana King.JAZZ: Morgana King, New York Times September 2, 1985 When she sang in a Greenwich Village nightclub in 1953, a record label executive took an interest after being impressed with the unique phrasing and multi-octave range. Three years later in 1956, her first album, For You, For Me, For Evermore, was released.Andy Gregory, Eur. International Who's Who in Popular Music (2002), p. 278;
Film debut In the first appearance of Leonard G. Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz (1960), Morgana King stated that her ambition was "… to become a dramatic actress."Feather, Leonard. Encyclopedia of Jazz Horizon Press, . She began her acting career in The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, as Carmela Corleone, wife of Don Vito Corleone. In the film, she sang the song "Luna mezzo mare". She appeared in the television documentary The Godfather: Behind the Scenes (1971)."The Godfather: Behind the Scenes": IBDb by Morgana King She reprised the role in The Godfather Part II (1974), where her character dies aged 62, due to natural causes.Ben Fong-Torres (March 14, 1974). "Morgana King won't play dead" . Rolling Stone, Issue 156 by
Career
Singing King headlined clubs, concert halls and hotels, and toured throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and South America; e.g.: Basin Street;"Morgana King opened to a packed house". Billboard, September 25, 1954, vol 77, p. 39 bla-bla café;Ross, Sandy. bla-bla café; . Blue Note;Stephen Holden, (January 30, 1987). "Morgana King, the Blue Note" New York Times Blue Room at the Supper Club;Stephen Holden, (March 5, 1993). "Where Stardust Dreams Are, Always" New York Times Café Leon;Jazz vocalist Morgana King appeared at the Café Leon Down Beat, 1961, p. 55 Club Bali;The InTowner 'U' Street – Club Bali.pdf Scenes from the Past…'U' Street Jazz Club Bali Venues Cotton Club;"Cotton Club… Morgana King" by Lynn Voedisch. Chicago Sun-Times, October 30, 1992Lloyd Sachs (June 10, 1992). "… jazz vocalist, Morgana King, will perform at the Cotton Cotton." Chicago Sun-Times. Fat Tuesday's;"Morgana King will sing tonight [at] Fat Tuesday's". The New York Times, February 14, 1986 Jilly's;Morgana King Down Beat, 1960 page 69 Joe Howard's Place;"Morgana King" Down Beat, Volume 28 (1961), p. 48 Kenny's Castaways;Morgana King, Kenny's Castaways. The New York Times, March 24, 1974 Lainie's Room;Morgana King—Lainie's Room. The New York Times, April 9, 1978 Arts and Leisure Guide Les Mouches;Morgana King, singer at Les Mouches. The New York Times, May 13, 1979 Arts and Leisure Guide Lush Life;Cabaret: "Morgana King at Lush Life". The New York Times, March 29, 1982 Mr. Sam's;Stephen Holden (July 4, 1986). "Cabaret: Morgana King". The New York Times Rainbow Grill;Dramatic Singing by Morgana King. The New York Times, January 26, 1972 Review Reno Sweeney;Morgana King at Reno Sweeney. New York Magazine, December 19, 1977, p. 32. Scullers;"A Feast For Boston's Jazz Fans." by Fernando Gonzalez, The Boston Globe, April 13, 1990 Sniffen Court;Morgana King's instrumental group. The New York Times, July 8, 1963 Sweet Basil;Going Out Guide. The New York Times, December 20, 1980 Farther Downtown The Metropole;"Morgana King, jazz singer, at The Metropole." The New York Times, March 17, 1967 Cabaret Tonight. Town Hall;"Jazz Ensembles Sound Seasonal Note With an Easter Festival at Town Hall." The New York Times, March 31, 1956. the Waterbury Hotels;Waterbury hotels. The New York Times, January 3, 1988 Connecticut Guide. and Trude Heller's.Morgana King… Trude Heller's. The New York Times, July 5, 1977 and July 10, 1977 Going Out Guide, Arts and Leisure Guide
A few of the venue performances during her active career: the March 1956 Easter Jazz Festival at Town Hall in New York City; she opened Trude Heller's in July 1957 and returned throughout her career for anniversary performances; four months later, in November 1957, along with seven female jazz instrumentalists, she performed at the Jazz Female concert held at Carnegie Recital Hall;Women Offer Jazz Concert. New York Times, November 30, 1957 the Schaefer Music Festival in June 1976;"Schaefer Festival Opens On June 14 With Mancini." The New York Times, May 25, 1976 A Tribute to Billie Holiday at the Hollywood Bowl in July 1979; the AIDS Research – Benefit Bash in 1983,Jet September 26, 1983, v. 65, no. 3, p. 45. the Benefit for the Theater Off Park in May 1988;Robert E. Tomasson (May 22, 1988) "Social Events, Harlem Celebrations". New York Times the 2nd annual WPBX Jazz Festival at the Fine Arts Theater in August 1989.'Long Island Guide'. The New York Times, July 30, 1989 Anniversary Fair. While performing in Lisbon, Portugal, she was interviewed by the television show host Henrique Mendes at the television station RTP (the sole television station at that time)."
Musicians A limited list of artists who performed or recorded with King over the years of her career are Ben Aronov,Ben Aronov at [ Allmusic]John S. Wilson (Oct 29, 1984) "Music: Noted In Brief; Ben Aronov Plays Solo Jazz Piano". New York Times, Ronnie Bedford,Ronnie Bedford at [ Allmusic] Ed Caccavale (drums), Clifford Carter, Don Costa,Don Costa at Discogs Eddie Daniels, Sue Evans,Sue Evans at [ Allmusic] Larry Fallon, Sammy Figueroa, John Kaye (percussion), Helen Keane,Helen Keane at University of Pittsburgh Art Koenig,Art Koenig at Steve LaSpina, Scott Lee, Jay Leonhart, Ray Mantilla, Bill Mays, Charles McCracken,Charles McCracken at [ Allmusic] Ted Nash,Ted Nash at [ Allmusic] Adam Nussbaum,Adam Nussbaus at Allmusic Warren Odze,Warren Odze at Iridium Jazz Club Joe Puma,Joe Puma at Classic Jazz Guitar Don Rebic, Jack Wilkins, Joe Williams (bass), and Torrie Zito.Torrie Zito at Jazz Professional Morgana King at [ Allmusic]Morgana King at Amazon.comMorgana King at Morgana King at Yahoo! Music
Recording Her repertoire contains more than two hundred songs on more than thirty albums. Most of her recordings and re-issues have not remained in the catalogs.King profile at NapsterKing profile at RhapsodyKing profile at MP3King at Amazon.com: MP3 DownloadsKing profile at Vinyl Revolution
In 1964, she received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. The award went to the Beatles.
The UCLA Music Library's Jimmy Van Heusen papers include a letter dated September 5, 1965 pertaining to "songs… to be given to Morgana King."UCLA Libraries: Archives Special Collections, Coll. no. 127-M, Box 121, Folder 52 She recorded three songs by Van Heusen: "Here's That Rainy Day" (on It's a Quiet Thing, 1965), "Like Someone in Love" (on Stardust, 1986; and Another Time, Another Space, 1992) and "Imagination" (on Looking Through The Eyes Of Love, 1998). King's 1967 single "I Have Loved Me A Man" appeared in the US "Easy Listening" survey and the Australian Top 20, according to the Kent Music Report.
Television Beginning with The Andy Williams Show and The Hollywood Palace in 1964, for more than a decade she performed on television talk and variety shows including The Mike Douglas Show, The Dean Martin Show and The David Frost Show.Morgana King at
Retirement King announced her retirement from performing during an engagement at the Cotton Club in Chicago on Friday, December 10, 1993, and added that her recording would not be affected by the decision.Lloyd Sachs (December 13, 1993). "Morgana King Says Show Was Her Last" . Chicago Sun-Times She continued to perform after that date at the Ballroom,Stephen Holden (May 26, 1994). "Morgana King Still Offers Sensuality and Honey". New York Times Maxim's,A Dearth of Song And Dance. The Record, September 18, 1997 by Bill Ervolino Mirage Night Club (a benefit jazz session),Bob Herbert (May 20, 1996) "In America, Bird & Max". New York Times and Roosevelt Hotel's Cinegrill.Don Heckman (June 6, 2000). "Morgana King, Still Unique in Rare Appearance". Los Angeles Times. Her last film appearance was in the film A Brooklyn State of Mind (1997).
Personal life
Relationships and family King married twice. Her first marriage (when she was 17 years old) was to jazz trumpeter Tony FruscellaTony Fruscella profile at Jazz Discography Tony Fruscella at [ Allmusic.com]Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas All Music Guide to Jazz, The Definitive Guide to Jazz Music (2002), p. 443; New York Times obituary for Tony Fruscella, August 14, 1969 (1927–1969), who was 20 at the time. The marriage ended in divorce after nine years; they had a daughter, Graysan (1950–2008).Liner Notes on I Just Can't Stop Loving You (1991). During their marriage, the couple frequently had Sunday dinner with Charlie Parker and his family.Yanow, Scott The Trumpet Kings (2001), p. 162;
Her second marriage, in 1961, was to jazz trombonist Willie Dennis (né William DeBerardinis; 1926–1965),Berendt, Joachim Ernst The New Jazz Book, A History and Guide (1962), p. 314Porter, Lewis John Coltrane, His Life and Music (1999) p. 59; whom she met during an off-night visit to the Birdland Jazz Club where she went to hear Sam Donahue's group. He had performed with both Gerry Mulligan and Charles Mingus and recorded the 1953 album release, Four TrombonesJenkins, Todd S. I Know What I Know, The Music of Charles Mingus (2006), p. 24; on Mingus' record label, Debut Records. He had toured extensively with Benny Goodman,Crow, Bill From Birdland to Broadway, Scenes from a Jazz Life (1993), p. 195; Woody HermanDown Beat Vol 25 1958, p. 8 and Buddy Rich.