Artist Home Page: www.kenwillmorton.com

Artist Biography:
Ken Will Morton hasn’t played rock-n-roll all of his life. But after 15 years of strumming a six string, and 10 years of writing songs, it has become it. Growing up in New England, Ken left his hometown of Hartford to explore his musical aspirations. He traveled around the northeast playing bass with grit rockers The Groundhogs, and wrote songs with the charismatic Andy Cole, which they recorded on Andy’s eight-track reel-to-reel recorder.

By his late teens, Ken’s true passion had become music, and he moved south to Atlanta in 1993 to pursue it. In Atlanta, Ken worked various blue-collar jobs while honing his skills as a singer and songwriter. He started the band Wonderlust with bassist Dave Siff and drummer Kevin Watford (Gonzalaz). This “power trio of aggressive pop-power rock-punksters” released their debut EP, The Frailties of Life in 1998. Their full length, The Great Release followed in 1999. The band enjoyed some success, and even had a stint on the Vans Warped Tour. However, Ken was continuing to grow as a songwriter, and was still coming into his own and needed to quiet the music down some to hear himself think.

In the spring of 2001, Ken joined The Indicators. Spring of 2003 saw the release of the band’s sophomore CD, Kill the Messenger, a rootsy pop rock record, which received rave reviews from No Depression, Relix, Harp, Paste Magazine and more.

In the summer of 2002, Ken backed former Guadalcanal Diary front man Murray Attaway as lead guitarist in The Redeemers for a few shows. While Ken had a great time with these projects, he wanted to pursue his ambition of becoming a full-time touring musician. He left The Indicators in spring of 2004, relocated to Athens, Georgia, and worked tirelessly to finish his first solo record.

His first solo effort, In Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Hands, was self-released in June of 2004 and showcases Ken’s extraordinary skills as a songwriter. The recording process was a long and often difficult one for Ken, who spent a long year of sporadic recording with Chuck Jopski at Summer House Sound in Hoschton, GA, while enduring a bitter divorce and various personal demons.

With a vocal styling reminiscent of Springsteen, Westerberg and Dylan, and heartfelt lyrics about life, loss, and triumph, In Rock ‘n’ Rolls Hands takes listeners on the rocky and life-changing road that Ken himself has traveled. His blend of blues, country, and rock puts a unique twist on the singer/songwriter genre and has captured the attention of music critics across the country. So far, the disc has received rave reviews in No Depression, Harp Magazine, Paste Magazine and Performing Songwriter... no small feat for a self-released record.

Now residing in Athens, GA, Ken Will has 12 new songs recorded with producer Rob Gal (Josh Joplin, Swimming Pool Qs), and some with Ben Holst (Love Tractor) featuring the likes of Brann Dailor (Mastodon), Kyle Harris (ex Kenny Howes and the Yeah), Patrick Ferguson (Five Eight), Nic Goodson (Sleepy Horses), and “Hot Lick” Brandon Hicks. He’s putting the finishing touches on this sophomore effort, tentatively titled The King Of Coming Around. With a rockin’ new band called the Wholly Ghosts, and a boat-load of passion, the stars are aligning for Morton.

Having already toured all over the country and sharing the stage with such folks as Tommy Stinson, Edwin McCain, Sugarland, Dick Dale, Angie Aparo, Cary Hudson, Randall Bramblett, and a short tour of Ireland, that included a performance at the renowned Ruby Sessions in Dublin, Ken continues to explore the intangible allure of playing rock-n-roll. With a belly full of experience already under his belt, where does Ken Will Morton see himself in 10 years? “Under the faucet of inspiration, soaking wet and smiling…”

Artist Discography:
2004 --
Ken Will Morton / "In Rock’n’Roll’s Hands" Self-Released CD
2003 --
The Indicators / "Kill The Messenger" on Lynn Point Records
1999 --
Wonderlust / "A Great Release" (out of print)
1998 --
Wonderlust / “The Frailties of Life” (out of print)