COLLECTION NAME:
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
Record
Collection Name:
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
Title:
Morgan Cox Interview August 15, 2022
Title Type:
Devised
Name:
Cox, Morgan
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewee
Name:
Thomas, Susan
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewer
Resource Type:
Moving image
Genre:
Oral histories
Date Created:
2022-08-15
Language Term:
English
Extent:
1 online resource (1 video file) (40 min., 22 sec.)
Physical Description Note:
For access to the recordings on YouTube contact the University of Colorado Boulder American Music Research Center.
Abstract:
Morgan Cox is a singer-songwriter from Denver who now lives in Pueblo, Colorado. His music, which spans genres such as Hip-hop, R&B, and Soul, often deals with themes of overcoming struggles of mental health through positivity and spirituality.
Note:
00:00:00 Interviewee, Morgan Cox sings his song, "Beat the Odds" which he wrote for his therapist who had ovarian cancer and she beat it. Additional topics include: singer-songwriter music, soul, hip-hop, R&B. 00:04:39 Interviewer, Susan Thomas asks, “If you could just think back to when you were a kid growing up in Denver, what are the musical sounds that you remember growing up in your house or when you were in your neighborhood playing with kids on the street?” Morgan describes his earliest memories of music and dance as a child growing up in Denver. He recounts the influence that his mother had on his musical tastes and the mixed geographic tastes of Denver's hip-hop identity. Additional topic include: Minnie Riperton "Lovin' You", Juneteenth, Cinco de Mayo, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Denver East High School, E40, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Missy Elliot, Harlem Shake, 106 and Park, Black Entertainment Television, Beyonce Knowles, Destiny's Child, TLC, Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, Rap, Jazz, Denver--music, dance education, music education, Soul, R&B. 00:11:39 Susan asks, “Were there key people in your life that became important musical mentors?” Morgan mentions Quentin Hagewood from Steel City Studios, Cleo Parker Robinson of Denver's Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and Carl Lucero from Perfect World Music as his major artistic influences. Additional topics include: Steel City Studios, Quentin Hagewood, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Perfect World Music, Carl Lucero, music education, musical mentorship. 00:14:24 Susan asks Morgan to talk about dancing. Having entered into the music industry through dance, Morgan discusses the important influence of dance on his career. Additional topics include: Beyonce Knowles, Destiny's Child. 00:16:58 Susan asks Morgan to talk about what brought him to Pueblo. Morgan discusses how his struggles with mental health brought him to Pueblo. Despite hearing negative things about the city from others in Colorado, he was drawn by the unique culture and small-town feeling of Pueblo. Additional topics include: Starbucks, The X Factor, Denver, mental health, Pueblo--immigration. 00:19:55 Susan asks Morgan to describe the beauty of Pueblo. After moving to Pueblo, Morgan found the community support and cultural life he needed to bring positivity into his life. Additional topics include: Pueblo chile, Molly and Drew, Grind Haus Cafe, Blackbox Cafe, Suicide Awareness, Analogue Books & Records, Pueblo--community life, community support, improv, open-mic. 00:22:50 Morgan describes how his music serves as community work in Pueblo. Additional topics include: inspirational music, community work, social activism. 00:24:38 Susan asks Morgan what some challenges are for young musical artists in Pueblo. Morgan talks about his considerations for generational differences in musical performance and the struggle to "find your niche." Additional topics include: Blue Cactus Room, "Destination", Blo Back Gallery, Pueblo Riverwalk, Xenon, music--generational tastes, music--live performance. 00:27:59 Morgan states, “And then, if you keep on making locally, you might just get stuck, so think globally.” Morgan talks about his plans for a performing tour of Colorado and California and playing for The Opening Act, a suicide prevention program. He discusses how, despite expanding his art, he would like to keep Pueblo as a home base. Additional topics include: Steel City Studios, The Opening Act, music--touring. 00:29:55 Susan asks if music is being used as a tool to promote social change or protest, not even necessarily his music, but in the community around him. Morgan talks about social activism at open-mic nights and the diversity of Pueblo. Additional topics include: open-mic, social commentary, poetry, arts activism, diversity. 00:32:51 Susan asks, “When you record up in Denver are you recording with other musicians?” Morgan talks about his process of writing and recording music. Additional topics include: backing-tracks, music production. 00:34:30 Susan asks Morgan if there is anything else people should know about him and his music. Morgan talks about story-telling and the influence of Pueblo's spirituality on his music. Additional topics include: Native American spirituality, singer-songwriter, spirituality. 00:36:08 Morgan performs his song, "Like Wine." End of recording.
Note Type:
Time coded description
Note:
Collection is a collaboration between the American Music Research Center (AMRC) and the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation. For more information contact the AMRC.
Subject Topic:
Singers
Subject Topic:
Rap (Music)
Subject Topic:
Hip-hop
Subject Topic:
Soul music
Subject Topic:
Rhythm and blues music
Subject Topic:
Mental health
Subject Topic:
Composers
Subject Name:
Steel City Studios
Subject Geographic:
Pueblo (Colorado, United States, North America) (populated place)
Identifier:
Morgan_Cox_Full_Interview_2022-08-15.mp4
Physical Location:
American Music Research Center
Related Item:
Morgan Cox interview July 16, 2024
Related Item Type:
succeeding
Related Item Identifier:
Morgan_Cox_Follow-up_Interview_2024-07-16.mp4
Date Captured:
2022
Internet Media Type:
video/mp4
Digital Origin:
born digital
Access Condition:
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).