Dale Morris, a prominent Nashville manager who guided the careers of Alabama and Kenny Chesney, has died at age 89.
Key facts
- •Dale Morris died in his sleep at age 89.
- •He helped Alabama achieve 33 No. 1 hits during the 1980s and 1990s.
- •Kenny Chesney, a Morris client, achieved 32 No. 1 Billboard country hits.
- •Morris operated his management firm without written contracts for at least 45 years.
- •He was married to his wife, Earline, for 68 years.
Dale Morris, a leading Nashville music manager known for building the careers of the band Alabama and Kenny Chesney, died Friday at age 89. A representative stated that Morris died in his sleep. His long-time business partner and protege, Clint Higham, described his passing as the end of an era.
By the numbers
Career Highlights and Management Style
Morris began his career as a songwriter before moving from South Carolina to Nashville to start an agency, with Billy “Crash” Craddock as his first client. He later formed Dale Morris & Associates and eventually Morris Higham Management. His client roster included artists such as Martina McBride, Old Dominion, Jake Owen, and Big & Rich. Morris famously operated without written contracts for his clients for at least 45 years, allowing them to leave at any time provided they paid what was owed.
Work with Alabama and Kenny Chesney
Morris began working with Alabama in 1989, helping the group achieve 33 No. 1 hits and multiple Entertainer of the Year awards from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. He later oversaw the rise of Kenny Chesney, who earned 32 No. 1 Billboard country hits and was named Entertainer of the Year four times during the 2000s.
Legacy and Personal Life
In 2018, Morris and Higham sold their management company to Paradigm Talent Agency. Morris received the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award in 2014. He was married to his wife, Earline, for 68 years and is survived by his daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A celebration of life is planned for the fall.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Variety.
