Musician and Businessman Joe Morrell Passes Away

Joe Morrell, 1934 - 2006 Joe R. Morrell, age 72, passed away on Monday, June 19, 2006, at his home in Bristol, Tennessee.

He was a native of Bristol and a son of the late Beulah and Fred Morrell of Bristol. He was a musician, playing professionally as a young man with country music bands in New England and locally with Curly King on the "Farm and Fun Time" radio program in the 1950s. He sometimes performed using the stage name 'Herbie Hootenauger'.

Having founded Morrell Music in 1960, Morrell created a family business that has endured for decades serving musicians of the area. He also founded Joe Morrell Music Distributing Co., which supplies musical products to other retailers throughout the United States. Morrell loved the Bristol area and country music.

In the 1980s, Morrell designed and built a Bristol landmark, the “Grand Guitar” off Interstate 81. The structure, 70 feet long and three stories tall, has been featured in newspapers and magazines worldwide. It houses a country music museum. Morrell in 1989 bought radio station WOPI and moved the studios to the Grand Guitar building.

He was a loved and respected father to his two surviving children, Curtis and Anita Morrell. He is also survived by Curtis' wife Debbie Morrell; grandchildren, Justin and Allison Morrell; brother, Jessee Morrell; sister, Almeda Morrell Crowe, many nieces, nephews and cousins; as well as hundreds of friends and acquaintances that knew him through his love of music and business.

The family will be establishing a music scholarship in Joe's memory and those memorial contributions may be sent to Morrell Music at 2306 W. State St., Bristol, TN 37620.