Australian country music icon Chad Morgan dies after a 70-year career

Larrikin country singer Chad Morgan – affectionately known as the “Sheikh of Scrubby Creek” – has died aged 91.

The Australian country music icon died on the evening of January 1, 2025 at Gin Gin Hospital near Bundaberg in Queensland.

Son Chad Junior confirmed his father’s death to the ABC as tributes poured in to the man who brought joy, laughter and entertainment to generations of fans.

Country singer and good friend Evelyn Bury described Morgan as a “beautiful larrikin.”

Country star Troy Cassar-Daley posted on social media that Morgan was one of the funniest comedians he had ever seen on stage.

“He was always such an individual, which is what endeared him to so many in our industry,” he wrote.

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One of Australia’s best-known country music pioneers, Morgan was born in the South Burnett town of Wondai in 1933.

Morgan was raised by his grandparents and worked as a lumber and sugar worker in the Childers area before being discovered by the Australian radio program Amateur Hour and recording with Regal Zonophone.

Wearing his backwards safety pin hat and his signature smile, Morgan recorded and performed music for more than 70 years.

He released his first album in 1952.

“I joined the Air Force in 1952 and my friends heard me singing and dared me to go to Amateur Hour and it took off from there,” he said of his career in an ABC interview in Tamworth in 2016.

Celebrated career

Morgan has platinum and gold album sales and has performed across Australia in venues ranging from tents to trucks, clubs, pubs and festivals to the Sydney Opera House.

He was the king of country comedy with his songs “The Sheik of Scrubby Creek,” “I’m My Own Grandpa,” “The Shotgun Wedding,” “Double Decker Blowflies,” and “There’s Life In The Old Dog Yet.” Genres.

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Morgan was inducted into the Tamworth Hands of Fame in 1979 and the Roll of Renown in 1987, and received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2004.

He received a lifetime achievement award at the 2010 Country Music Association of Australia Awards.

One of Morgan’s final interviews was recorded at the opening of a permanent exhibition in his honor at Childers in August.

“Larger than life”

Photographer John Elliot grew up in Blackall in outback Queensland and remembers his first Chad Morgan show.

“He was larger than life – he scared the crap out of me when I was four or five,” he said.

Mr Elliot described Morgan as the original rock star, the original punk.

During his career photographing country musicians across Australia, Mr Elliot and Morgan developed a relationship through the lens.

Mr Elliot said driving was Morgan’s preferred mode of transport as he traveled the country throughout his career.

“One of our mutual friends said Chad was doing this long before rock stars hired Taragos to perform,” he said.

“They drove their cars down every dirty road across Australia. I think I persuaded him to fly to Winton (last time) but driving was his preferred mode of transport.”

“Chad Morgan may be good, but I don’t think they’ll make another one.”