In August 1945, a baby was born in Belfast Ireland who would grow to be one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century. Named George Ivan Morrison by his parents, Van the Man by his fans, and more commonly Van Morrison by music lovers throughout the world, the baby is now into his sixties and both he, and his music are still going strong.
Playing a variety of instruments including keyboard, saxophone and harmonica he played in various groups until he found stardom knocking on his door when his Irish rhythm and blues band Them released in 1964 (ironically released as the B side of Baby, Please Dont Go!). Three years later, it would be Brown Eyed Girl that would bring him to an even higher level, only this time as a solo performer. Brown Eyed Girl, a song that is considered synonymous with Van Morrison, has been listed in many top 100 best song lists and in 2007 was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Despite this, Van Morrison remains adamant that because of a contract he signed without professional advice, he has never earned any royalties for this song. Another of Morrisons songs that has achieved greatness is the title track from his 1970 Moondance album. Although released as a single 7 years after the release of the album, the sophisticated sound of Moondance has made it an ideal choice for singers like Michael Buble. Many of Van Morrisons songs have also appeared on movie soundtracks over the years.
Despite his public appeal, and the way his music reaches out to his fans, Van Morrison himself is not one of the music worlds more flamboyant celebrities. In fact, at one time he suffered from serious stage fright which kept him from performing live for a time in the 1970s. Since regaining his stage confidence he has played in front of such notable people as then US President Bill Clinton, as well as concert venues worldwide packed with thousands of fans. Hes also no stranger to TV appearances and appeared as one of Jay Lenos final guests before his show was moved to primetime in May 2009.
One of the things that makes Van Morrison so popular is his ability to mix musical genre. Most performers stick within a particular genre and thats the foundation of their fan base. Van Morrison however reaches across genres, blending his native Celtic tones with blues, folk, rock and roll, and even pop. Consequently his music reaches a wide audience that spans generations.
Although Van Morrison doesnt tour, he does continue to perform live, so if you havent seen him yet, make sure you get a ticket next time hes in your area!
