Former Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ frontman and guitarist Huey Morgan has announced his return to the live music scene, with a very special date at The 100 Club in London on Saturday 4th May with his brand new band: Huey Morgan: The Fun Lovin’ Criminal.
The 100 Club show will serve as a warm-up ahead of an appearance at The Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Sunday 5th May, before further full-band festival appearances at Blues Peer Festival in Belgium on 18th May and Kaleidoscope Festival in London on 13th July – in addition to Huey playing his celebrated DJ sets at other festivals this summer.
His upcoming dates will feature a mixture of FLC classics, such as “Scooby Snacks” “The Fun Lovin’ Criminals”, “King Of New York”, “Big Night Out”, “Love Unlimited”, “Loco”, “Couldn’t Get It Right”, along with the promise of new music.
Looking ahead to what promises to be a night of funk, soul, hip-hop and memories, Huey said, “After almost four years, I’m returning to what I’ve loved all my life; playing cool authentic music for cool authentic people.”
Introducing the line-up for his new band, Huey said, “The guys in the band consist of Mateo DiFontaine, who was one of the original members of Fun Lovin Criminals. He’s on keys, turntables and lap steel guitar.
“One of my oldest friends and the godfather to my children – who is simply called “King”- is a singer in the Tangiers Blues Band, a group I founded in the late 1990s as a side gig with some friends in NYC. He’s on bass guitar and wisecracks.
“The new cats are tremendous additions to the vibe we bring to the live shows. Leon Harrison-James on the trap kit is bringing taste and flavour to my tunes, and his energy on the set we’ve been putting together is gonna highlight what a dynamic and stylistic drummer he is.
“On the keys, I looked for someone who had a working knowledge of funk, soul, rock, punk and hip-hop and wasn’t in jail. Adrian Gautrey kept getting recommended to me as a cat who could purr on B3 organ, as well as all the other keys that round out the Huey sound. Y’all better respecognise.”
Coming to prominence as the frontman and driving force of the eclectic American rap/rock outfit Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Huey Morgan led the band [formed in New York City] from 1993 – 2021, during which time Fun Lovin’ Criminals released six albums between 1996 and 2010, and sold more than 10 million records worldwide.
Huey has also enjoyed great success as a radio and television broadcaster, author and DJ. As the host of The Huey Show on BBC Radio 6 Music since 2008, he is a “cherished voice” on national radio in the UK, playing a mix of hip hop, soul, punk, funk, rock and everything in between. Sustaining a loyal following at 6 Music more than 16 years. His live DJ sets are full of classics – as he mixes between anthemic throwbacks and effortlessly cool selections.
His BBC TV documentary series (2019) “Huey Morgan’s Latin Music Adventure”, explored his lifelong love of Latin music, which saw him travel to Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico.
His book “Rebel Heroes: The Renegades of Music and Why We Still Need Them”, released in 2015, addresses the direction in which music is headed, examining the future against a backdrop of past musical icons.
Live dates for Huey Morgan: The Fun Lovin’ Criminal:
- Sat 4th May London The 100 Club
- Sun 5th May Cheltenham Cheltenham Jazz Festival
- Sat 18th May Peer Blues Peer Festival, Belgium
- Sat 13th July London Kaleidoscope Festival
- Tickets for Huey Morgan: The Fun Lovin’ Criminal at The 100 Club on Saturday 4th May are on sale now, available from: https://www.metropolismusic.com/all-events/huey-morgan-tickets-ae1395751
Huey’s “Track Record”
1. First song you recall hearing as a child?
The melody I remember most from my childhood is, “You Belong To Me”. There are a bunch of great versions of this song, but Bob Dylan and Dean Martin’s versions are my favourites.
2. First single you owned?
I bought, “On The Radio” by Donna Summer on 45 rpm when I was 10.
3. First LP/album you owned?
I made my mom (sic) buy me Earth Wind & Fire’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2, because it had a bunch of Egyptian art on the cover and King Tut’ was touring the USA at the time.
4. First CD you owned?
I can’t recall which was my first, but I do remember buying a Steely Dan compilation because I wanted to hear how the analogue production translated to digital format. It was a big move from tape.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
Gordon Lightfoot. Record labels and random music people send me all this music now. It’s like when I finally got my record deal and could afford guitars, and then the guitar companies give them to you. It’s important, though, to keep looking for the stuff that isn’t handed to you, but stuff you gotta (sic) dig for. I grab songs off of the internet now. I pay for some of it, but not all.
6. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, but the Detroit Mix of the album. Rick Rubin turned me on to it. It’s all the familiar tracks, just mixed by a Motown engineer instead of Marvin Gaye. It gives you some interesting takes on the music we all know so well.
7. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
“Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac, “Sprit of Eden” by Talk Talk and “Kinda Blue” by Miles Davis.
8. Best record ever made (can be single/album/EP – and choose more than one if need be)?
“Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
9. Guilty secret (or anything unusual or perhaps unexpected) in your music collection?
I’m not that guy.
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
Well, to make a very long story short; music is everything to me. It has seen me through very bad times. It has given me solace me in moments of doubt and it gives me the faith to carry on living.
11. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
Anything by Louie Prima.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
I’ve got a book coming out about my life very soon, and all the music that will inevitably be in the adapted movie about the book is now a top secret. Sorry!
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
Bernard Fevre is a cat who makes great driving music.
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
Are you trying to use my musical expertise to try and get laid? [Editor’s note: Er, no Huey….]
15. Which song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if you are married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
Louie Prima and Keely Smith, “That Old Black Magic”.
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
I don’t do that kinda (sic) thing.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
There are thousands of tunes that transport me back in time to my very difficult childhood, but one in particular is Wille Colon and Hector Lavoe’s “El Cantante”.
18. Favourite band (or bands)?
Led Zeppelin.
19. Favourite singer (or singers)?
Rev. Al Green.
20. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
Nothing I would like to make public.
Huey photo [b&w top of page] by Tom Barnes
