Morris Pleasure

Morris "Mo" Joseph Pleasure (born July 12, 1962) is an American composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and touring musician (Sideman). Pleasure plays piano, bass, trumpet, and guitar, in genres that include pop, funk, jazz, R&B, soul, Brazilian, and classical music. Pleasure holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Connecticut (1986). He has recorded and performed with artists such as Ray Charles, Najee, George Duke, Earth, Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Peter Cetera, David Foster, Bette Midler and others. Pleasure also appeared in the 2009 Michael Jackson documentary This Is It and Janet Jackson's film Janet: Live in Hawaii.

History

Pleasure was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His parents Robert and Evelyn Pleasure were originally from Louisiana, but moved to Hartford so Robert could attend Yale Divinity School from which he graduated in 1961. The family then moved to Guilford, Connecticut when young Pleasure was 7 years old. Pleasure began playing piano at age four and studied piano under Carol Wright from age seven to 17.

Frequent trips to Louisiana to visit family gave Pleasure a deep exposure to and appreciation for Gospel music as many of his relatives were active in church, and gospel music was the soundtrack of their lives. And it was on these trips that he also experienced first hand the inequalities of a still segregated south. A black family traveling through the south in those times could not stop at a hotel for the night, so the family would make these trips nonstop.

By the time Pleasure was a teenager, he had become proficient in trumpet, guitar, drums and violin as well. He composed his first song at age 12. He accompanied his father (an accomplished tenor) at all the Guilford high school's graduations from 1975–80 and was active in his high school's music programs. Pleasure holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Connecticut (1986)

Some of his main influences for playing piano/keyboards include George Duke, Joe Sample, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Hancock, Donald Blackman, and Chick Corea. Also, Verdine White, Chuck Rainey, James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorious, Bootsy Collins, and Chuck Rainey had a strong impact on Pleasure's love for the bass and his approach to playing it.

Career

Pleasure started his career as a bass player after graduating UConn when he became a member of Ray Charles' orchestra in 1986.

Pleasure has played piano and keyboards for many artists. He was musical director for Earth Wind and Fire, performed with Michael Jackson for This Is It, and has played with performers including George Duke, Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Najee, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Peter Cetera, Bette Midler and David Foster. Pleasure also appeared in the 2009 Michael Jackson documentary This Is It^[1] and Janet Jackson's film Janet: Live in Hawaii^[2]

Morris is sponsored by and is a spokesperson/product endorser for Yamaha;^[3] his most recent product endorsement is for Yamaha's new Reface Synthesizer.^[4]

He has devoted time to philanthropic efforts including fundraising for the Guilford ABC Program and Guilford High School music programs and co-founded "We R 1 Voice" with his wife Lori in 2013.^[5][6]

Discography

• Elements of Pleasure (2004) Watersign Records
• Devoted Spirits: A Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire (2004) Thump Records

References

External links

• Official website
• Mo Pleasure on Facebook
• Morris Pleasure on Twitter
• Morris Pleasure credits at Allmusic
• Mo Pleasure discography at Allmusic
• Morris Pleasure at the Internet Movie Database