Anthology

Gary Morris is an American country music artist who charted a string of countrypolitan-styled hit songs throughout the 1980s — including five No. 1 singles on the Billboard country charts.

His best known song is the 1983 ballad “The Wind Beneath My Wings,” later recorded by Bette Midler.

Morris started his career by winning a talent show in the third grade with his sister. From there, he moved to singing in nightclubs in Denver, Colorado, before writing jingles for Frontier Airlines and singing at fundraisers for Jimmy carter during the1976 presidential campaign.

This job led to Morris’ performing at the White House following Carter’s election. A Nashville country music producer in the audience liked what he heard and signed the singer to Warner Bros. Records.

Morris first big hit, “Headed For A Heartache” came in 1981 but his breakthrough came with his 1983 album, “Why Lady Why,” which had four hit singles including “Wind Beneath My Wings” the ballad “The Love She Foundin Me,” the mid-tempoed “Velvet Chains” and the up-tempoed title track. All of them peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, as did his duet with Lynn Anderson, “You’re Welcome to Tonight.”

Morris’ other hits include, “Baby Bye Bye,” “I’ll Never Stop Loving You,””100% Chance of Rain,” “Leave Me Lonely” and “Makin’ Up For Lost Time (The Dallas Lovers Song),” a duet with Crystal Gayle.

Morris later opened a music publishing office in Nashville, with one of his employees being future star Faith Hill and has branched out to Broadway, performing in “Les Miserables” and “La Boheme.”

Gary Morris performs two songs on San Diego county resident Juice Newton’s new album, “Duets: Friends & Memories,” which was released in October 2010,and he also spends time at his fly-fishing/hunting resort Mountain Spirit Lodge in southern Colorado. He married Terry Proveaux on November 24, 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee, and adopted her son, Chandler. In addition, Gary has four other sons: Sam, Matt, Hunter and Garon. His son Matthew, like their father, is a performer who sings, writes and entertains.