Stacey Morris

Sydney, 24 November 2004

Stacey Morris's rendition of the Carole King classic "So Far Away" has been chosen as one of the 15 tracks to be featured on the annual Saturday Night Country (SNC) "Hottest Hits" album, alongside heavyweights like Kasey Chambers, Norah Jones, Dolly Parton and Troy Cassar-Daley.

The tracks for the album were chosen by the listeners of the hugely popular Saturday Night Country show, presented by John Nutting. SNC is broadcast to three million listeners every week through 54 ABC radio stations and its host is well respected for being instrumental in introducing Country Music to the ABC and for supporting new Australian talent.

With her solo album Borders and Boundaries only on the shelves for a few short months, Stacey is already making her presence felt on the Country Scene. Reviewing Borders and Boundaries in this month's Country Music Capital News, Sue Jarvis said.

"Stacey has a warm, unusual voice which brings the songs she's chosen to life, but her real strength is the ability to wring every ounce of emotion from a song, and uncover every nuance and layer of feeling."

Based on the NSW South Coast, Stacey is married to legendary Rugby League player Steve "Slippery" Morris.

Saturday Night Country's "Hottest Hits" will be released for the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2005. - Hotsource

Sydney - 21 November 2005

Kiama vocalist, Stacey Morris is one of five finalists nominated for the John Laws Rising Star Award.

The award is open to Independent artists. The winner will receive a recording session with Sony BMG as well as a 5 night getaway to Hamilton Island for two people.

Stacey’s sister funded the production of her first album, Borders and Boundaries. Two singles from the album made the charts in both Australia and Europe. Although the album has attracted lots of attention, and Stacey has achieved a number of milestones since its release, she would love the opportunity to record with a major record label and record some Australian penned songs.

Stacey won the Toyota Independent Female Vocalist of the Year Award in October and in March won the prestigious Frank Ifield International Spur Award.

John is inviting people to vote by phoning 1 900 954 954. The winner will be announced on the John Laws Morning Program next Friday, the 25th.

Read more about Stacey in the Bio Section, view pictures in the Gallery.


Hotsource is a music company offering marketing services to the Music Industry.
Website: http://www.hotsource.com.au
- Hotsource

Sydney - 8 December 2005

Stacey Nominated For for TIARA Award

Female Vocalist of the Year Award

Stacey Morris is one of five finalists nominated for the TIARA Awards in Best Female Vocalist Category.

The TIARA's (Tamworth Independent Artists Recognition Awards) were inaugurated in 1998 by a group of Tamworth based musicians, performers and industry based individuals. The awards are for the grass roots sector of the Australian Country Music Industry, which comprises around 90% of performers today.

These artists work two, three, four and five nights a week taking their music to the people to raise the finance to record their own CD, organise distribution and promotion themselves. Some draw their inspiration from the great Australian showmen of yester year or from the pioneers of American Country Music. It is for these people the TIARAS have been created.

Stacey has achieved a number of awards this year including the Frank Ifield International Spur Award and the Telstra Southern Cross Female Vocalist of the Year Award. Her CD, Borders and Boundaries, has charted in both Australia and Europe.

The winners will be presented by Rob Brown, TIARA President, at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre on Tuesday January 24th at 7:30pm.

Stacey will be singing on the night -along with her Telstra Southern Cross Male Vocalist of the Year counterpart, James Blundell. - Hotsource

Mildura, 4 October 2005

Sydney vocalist STACEY MORRIS won the Mildura Country Music Festival Female Vocalist Category with Moonlight & Roses, the second release off her album Borders and Boundaries.

The album has attracted lots of attention, and Stacey has achieved a number of milestones since its release. Stacey was nominated as one of the Golden Guitar’s Top 10 Best Female Vocalists of the Year, won the prestigious Frank Ifield International Spur Award, and was nominated by the Country Music Association of Australia for one of their Achiever Awards, Independent Entertainer of the Year.

Stacey’s single, So Far Away, was included in the ABC’s inaugural Saturday Night Country’s Hottest Hits album, and has been on the Top 30 Country Charts ever since. Stacey is an endorsee for Ovation guitars, distributed by National Music in Australia.

Two singles from Borders and Boundaries have charted both in Australia and Europe. Stacey’s next challenge is her nomination as Country Female Artist in the ACE - Australian Club Entertainment - Awards. She’s up against some hard hitters with Donna Boyd, Beccy Cole, Felicity Urquhart, and Melinda Schneider also in the running. The ACE Awards will be announced at a gala affair at the Canterbury/Hurlstone Park RSL Club in Sydney on October 26th.

Stacey’s album Borders and Boundaries is the result of collaboration with well known country music producer Herm Kovac. “Winning the award means so much to me. It’s an acknowledgement of a lot of hard work by a lot of people. Doing what I love to do and being recognized for what I do makes me proud.”

Along with her friends Nicki Gillis, Samantha McClymont, Natalie Howard, Camille Te Nahu and Stu French, Stacey participated in the Mildura Country Music Festival all week and sang, literally, until she couldn’t anymore. She did 30 shows in 10 days. “I absolutely love the atmosphere and all of the collaborations that happen at a Festival like this one. It’s one big party – filled with great music.”

The Mildura Country Music Festival is one of the big three country music festivals in Australia, alongside the Tamworth Festival and the Gympie Muster. The major difference between the other two and the 19th annual Mildura Country Music Festival is that Mildura is Australia's biggest showcase of Independent entertainers. Other finalists in the female vocal category were Tania Kernaghan, Keri McInerney, and Tracy Coster.

- Hotsource

Sydney, 15 August, 2005

Adding to a long list of accolades for Stacey in 2005 is the announcement that she has made it to the finals for two major Country Music Awards.

The COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRA
LIA (CMAA) has nominated Stacey as a finalist for one of their Achiever Awards, Independent Entertainer of the Year.

Now in its eleventh year, this is the Country Music Industry's recognition of the best of the best. The winners will be announced on Monday September 12 at a Gala Presentation hosted by Kerri-Anne Kennerley.

In addition the TELSTRA COUNTRY WIDE SOUTHERN STARS THE AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS has nominated Stacey as a finalist for the Australian Independent Female Vocalist of the Year.

These awards are held in conjunction with the 10 day Mildura Country Music Festival. The organiser, John Arnold, reported a total of 255 individual entries this year with representatives who are established artists and previous award winners as well as new and rising stars. The level of interest is a positive acknowledgement of the development and promotion of Australian Country Music.

Winners will be announced on Saturday 1 October at the Mildura Arts Centre.

When told of her nominations Stacey was thrilled -she says "these acknowledgements mean a lot to me. Singing is what I love to do - but it's not always easy, driving for miles to a gig, singing my heart out week-in, week out, sometimes to empty rooms - tucking the kids in before I go out on the road again. When your peers nominate and support you, it makes it all worthwhile -even if I don't win, I'm making my mark on the Aussie Country Music scene and it sure feels good!"

- Hotsource

Sydney, 14 March 2005

Stacey Morris was awarded the prestigious Frank Ifield International Spur Award 2005 in front of a packed Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club on Thursday 10th March 2005

Presented to Stacey by the legendary Frank Ifield himself, Stacey was understandably stunned and delighted by the news. Stacey had just come along to watch her friend perform in the monthly Canterbury Country show and came away with one of the most sought after awards for upcoming Country talent in Australia!

Stacey managed a quick 15 minute rehearsal with the band after the announcement and then performed to an appreciative crowd. Frank had even smuggled Stacey's prized Ovation guitar backstage for the occasion!

The International Spur Award is a Rotary International* initiative given in conjunction with The Galston Country Music Festival, and chosen each year by Frank Ifield. It is an encouragement award with a focus on aspiring new talent. As part of the prize, Stacey's track So Far Away from her new album Borders and Boundaries will receive significant airplay and promotion in Australia and Europe.

Frank said of Borders and Boundaries, "When I first heard it, I couldn't stop playing it. Every track is good, and Stacey has the most amazing voice, note perfect but full of emotion. She’s also a REAL Australian and that's what is endearing in her personality." - CMAA

Sydney, 8 March 2005

Ovation guitars, distributed by National Music in Australia, have selected Stacey Morris to endorse their superior guitars.

It adds to a long list of accolades for Stacey since January. Stacey was nominated as one of the Golden Guitar's Top 10 Best Female Vocalists of the Year, had her single, So Far Away included in the ABC's inaugural Saturday Night Country's Hottest Hits album, and has been on the Top 30 Country Charts ever since.

Ovation's market objective is to partner with artists they see as about to hit the big time!

Ovation became a huge name in the seventies after Charles Kaman, the founder, revolutionised the acoustic guitar by applying the principles of vibration and developing a semi-parabolic back designed to focus the sound energy on the soundboard. By adding a piezo-electric transducer he created the world's first acoustic electric guitar.

The Ovation is considered to be a superior guitar. Its clarity, projection and tonal balance coupled with its unique design have hallmarked it as the guitar of choice for many artists, including Glen Campbell, Joan Armatrading, Melissa Etheridge, Ziggy Marley and Alicia Keys.

In 2004 Ovation released the LX upgrade with a host of new features ensuring a rekindling of interest by guitar aficionados.

Les Mercer, NSW Sales Manager for National Music says "We acknowledge Stacey's exceptional talent and her ability to make it to the top. Her album Borders and Boundaries has had an amazing impact on the Country Music industry. Stacey will be a great ambassador for Ovation guitars and DR Strings*."

Les presented Stacey with a beautiful Quilted Blue, mid-depth bowl, six-string acoustic/electric Model Celebrity Deluxe, yes Mamma! (Stacey did have a gentle weep.)

- Hotsource

Sydney, 20 January 2005

It's been a wonderful start to 2005 for Stacey Morris as her debut country single Borders and Boundaries has bulleted in to the Country Tracks Chart at number 29 after only a few short weeks on the market.

The title track of Stacey's new album, Borders and Boundaries was penned by Sam and Annie Tate, the writers of Somebody, Reba McEntire's smash No. 1 hit.

"I'm a true romantic at heart," Stacey reveals. "The first time I heard Borders and Boundaries it touched me for its simplicity and tenderness. I just knew I had to sing it."

A beautiful song of love that flourishes despite cultural differences and life's hardships, Borders and Boundaries has been a huge hit with live audiences and radio listeners alike.

A video clip for Borders and Boundaries has been produced by Greg Van Borssum from production house Kennedy Miller, the company famous for classic Aussie films including Babe and Mad Max.

Stacey's career is showing neither borders nor boundaries!

Voted one of the top ten female vocalists of the year by judges of the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards.

Listeners to John Nutting's Saturday Night Country (SNC) show chose Stacey's rendition of the Carole King classic So Far Away as one of the 15 tracks to be featured on the inaugural SNC "Hottest Hits" album. (in stores now!) - CMAA

Sydney, 24 November 2004

Stacey has just released her debut solo studio album, Borders And Boundaries, and is already making her presence felt with her soulful, emotive vocal sound and her remarkable ability to interpret a song. Still a new name on the country scene, Stacey is the first to admit she's lived a lot of life and experienced plenty of highs and lows. She credits that with her ability to move an audience through her singing.

"For me, those years of living are a real advantage. I've been though a lot emotionally, come close to death and survived a very challenging illness. But that's made me understand people and emotions and what lifes about," Stacey said.

"For me, the greatest compliment is to look down into an audience and see someone crying because my song has moved them. I have to admit, I'm not averse to shedding a tear or two when I'm singing myself sometimes".

"But what I really aim to do when I'm singing is let the audience feel the emotion. Somehow, when I get up on that stage I become a different person. It just flows through me very naturally, and the song becomes the central focus."

So when it came to recording her debut album, Stacey knew she needed powerful songs that she could relate to. She also knew she needed a producer who understood where she was coming from.

"I really wanted to work with HERM KOVAC, and fortunately he really loved my singing and immediately agreed to do the album. We really connected, and the album came together really well," Stacey said.

Herm played a big part in gathering songs for Borders and Boundaries, with Stacey making the final song choice.

"Herm chose songs he thought would suit me, but I was looking for tracks that related directly to me in some way, songs that felt like I could have written them myself. I really need to be able to connect to a song, or it's not possible to convey the message to those listening."

The result is a wonderful collection of music, by mostly female US songwriters including Jill Johnson, Cheryl Wheeler, Sam and Annie Tait, Irene Kelley, Gretchen Peters and Beth Nielson Chapman.

The first single and the album's title track, Borders And Boundaries, is a moving song about love transcending differences and obstacles. Stacey is about to record a film clip for the song, and is eagerly awaiting the response from the country music public. Other standout tracks on Borders and Boundaries include the quirky "Just Around The Eyes", which virtually everyone will relate to, and a superb version of Gretchen Peters' "I Don't Know".

Stacey has a warm, unusual voice which brings the songs she's chosen to life, but her real strength is the ability to wring every ounce of emotion from a song, and to uncover every nuance and layer of feeling. Other tracks that just keep getting better and better with each listen are "That's The Way It Feels", "Just Like You Do", "It Wasn't Me" and the wonderful "Not So Different After All". Stacey's great version of "Astroturf" also shows she can rock it out with the best of them.

Stacey has years of performing experience behind her. She works regularly on the Illawarra music scene, presents a Patsy Cline Tribute show, and has performed with a range of bands from rock to country, including well-known Sydney outfit MCCAULEY'S RAIDERS.

Based on the NSW South Coast, she's married to legendary Rugby League player Steve "Slippery" Morris, and is mother to three children and stepmother to another four.

Borders And Boundaries was launched at the Como Hotel late last month, and Stacey has already performed several of the songs live during a multi-artist Tivoli Tour of southeast Queensland in September.

But with her album now out, her focus is very much on building a solo country career. She's in the process of forming a band, and plans to perform in Tamworth in January, and then to tour as much as possible during 2005.

- Country Music Capital News