David Morgan, Connecting The Artist and Audience
David Morgan spent more than 50 years standing between artists and audiences, helping translate performances into emotional experiences night after night.
As the longtime front of house engineer for James Taylor, Paul Simon, Bette Midler, Steely Dan, Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, and many others, he’s mixed everything from intimate theater shows to massive outdoor performances for hundreds of thousands of people. But what drives him has never really been the résumé.
It’s the people walking out smiling.
In this conversation, David reflects on the path from hauling PA and carrying a spotlight in a North Hollywood country bar to mixing some of the most celebrated tours in modern music history. Along the way, he shares stories about the Doobie Brothers, Graceland, James Taylor, analog gear, mentorship, touring culture, and what it actually takes to survive in live sound for over five decades.
More than anything, this episode is about service to the music, service to the artist, and the responsibility of helping audiences feel something real.“I live from on the rush of live shows, that’s what keeps me in it, that’s what keeps me getting up the next day, it keeps me improving the quality of mixes, it keeps me learning new things…. It’s all about the love!”
"I would hope people remember me as someone who made millions of people happy. To be a clear enough window between them and the artist they came to admire — that's the best feedback I can get. It's all part of the love." — David Morgan
Paul Simon -Born at The Right Time Tour 1991
Gamble 56 with a Yamaha PM-3000 Sidecar
Behind a different sort of desk….
1982 General Manager at Innovative Audio (soon to become Schubert Systems Group)
From 2016 thru 2019, David was on tour with James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks.
Received 2 more TEC Award nominations in 2016 & 2019. Won 2019 Parnelli Award for Fleetwood Mac.
James Taylor | USA and European Before This World Tour | 2015
James Taylor | USA and European All Star Band Tours | 2014
Mariah Carey | Africa and European Tour | 2013
James Taylor | All Star Band Tour | 2013
James Taylor | Heck on Wheels Tour | 2012
James Taylor | European Tour | 2012
James Taylor | Legendary Band Tour | 2011
Joe Walsh | Analogue Man Tour | 2011, 2012
Carole King & James Taylor | Troubadour Reunion Tour | 2010
Cher at the Colosseum Theater | Caesars Palace | 2009, 2010, 2011
James Taylor | Band of Legends European Tour | 2009
Bette Midler | The Showgirl Must Go On | Caesars Palace | 2008, 2009
James Taylor | Covers Tour | 2008
James Taylor | Fall Band Tour | 2007
James Taylor | Summer Band Tour | 2007
Stevie Nicks | Crystal Visions Tours | 2006, 2007, 2008
James Taylor | One Man Band Tours | 2006, 2007, 2008
Paul Simon | Surprise Tour | 2006
Donald Fagen | Morph The Cat Tour | 2006
James Taylor | Christmas Tour | 2005
Shakira | Oral Fixation Tour | 2005
James Taylor | Summer’s Here Tour | 2005
Bette Midler | Kiss My Brass Tour | 2004, 2005
Edie Brickell | Volcano Tour | 2004
Simon and Garfunkel | Old Friends Tour | 2003, 2004
Steely Dan | Everything Must Go Tour | 2003
Boz Scaggs | But Beautiful Tour | 2003
Paul Simon | European Tour | 2002
Mick Jagger | Goddess In The Doorway Tour | 2001
Paul Simon with Brian Wilson Tour | 2001
Electric Light Orchestra | Zoom Concerts | 2001
Paul Simon | You’re The One Tour | 2000
Steely Dan | Y2K Tour | 2000
Bette Midler | Divine Miss Millennium Tour | 1999
Paul Simon & Bob Dylan Tour | 1999
Lionel Richie | Time Tour | 1998, 1999
Kitaro | Cirque Ingenieux Tour | 1998
Enrique Iglesias | Vivir Tour | 1997
Bette Midler | Diva Las Vegas Tour | 1996, 1997
Steely Dan | Art Crimes Tour | 1996
Kitaro | An Enchanted Evening Tour | 1995
Bette Midler | Experience the Divine Tour | 1993, 1994
Johnny Hallyday | Rough Town Tour | 1994
Simon and Garfunkel Stadium Events | 1993
The Concert Event of a Lifetime | The Music of Paul Simon, featuring Simon and Garfunkel | Paramount Theater | 1993
Lionel Richie | Front to Back Tour | 1992
Jesus Christ Superstar | Australian Tour | 1992
Paul Simon | Born at the Right Time Tour | 1990, 1991, 1992
Paul Simon | Central Park Concert | 1991
Sheena Easton | The Lover in Me Tour | 1990
Paul Simon | The Graceland Tour | 1989
Whitney Houston | Moment of Truth World Tour | 1988
Whitney Houston | Moment of Truth USA Tour | 1987
Paul Simon | The Graceland Tour | 1987
Whitney Houston | Greatest Love Tour | 1986
Michael McDonald | No Lookin’ Back Tour | 1985
Glenn Frey | The All nighter Tour | 1985
Michael McDonald | Solo Tour | 1983
The Doobie Brothers | Farewell Tour | 1982
Barry Manilow | OneVoice Tour | 1980, 1981
The Doobie Brothers | Minute by Minute Tour | 1979
Projects of Note
Contributing journalist for FOH Magazine and FOH Online, including monthly column, ‘‘On the Digital Edge’’
Guest lecturer at University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music, Music Industry Program
Guest lecturer at Blackbird Academy in Nashville, Tennessee
Managing partner and design engineer at Schubert Systems Group in North Hollywood, California | 1981 to 1986
Recognition
• 2001 TEC Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement & Tour Production | Steely Dan | Y2K Tour
• NAAMM Foundation TEC Award Nominee for Outstanding Creative Achievement & Tour Production | 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 & 2016 |
• Parnelli Award Nominee for FOH Engineering | 2004, 2008, 2010 & 2012 |
You can check more articles written by and or about David Morgan in FOH Magazine