Kingston Springs Gazette journalist Edward Morris dies at age 90

Ed would have worn the “Gazette journalist” title with pride. 

He was a staunch supporter of local journalism, and one of the Gazette’s earliest supporters. In his three years with Gazette, he contributed 78 articles. Ed is best known for his 14-year tenure at Billboard, and there’s not many people in the Nashville country music scene who don’t know the name “Morris.” 

Ed held many titles throughout his life of 90 years. (In fact, this obituary will be published on his 91st birthday). Author, poet, playwright, editor, journalist, father, husband, brother and friend. 

He began writing freelance articles for Billboard in 1972, moved to Nashville in 1980, and joined the magazine’s staff full-time in 1981. He rose to become its Country Music Editor and chief Nashville columnist. His wife, Norma, became a respected Nashville publicist working with clients such as Ralph Stanley and Steve Wariner.

In addition to Billboard, Ed’s byline appeared in such publications as Advertising Age, TV Guide, McCall’s, Hollywood Reporter, Amusement Business, Book Page, The Journal Of Country Music, Mother Earth News, Bluegrass Unlimited, Saturday Evening Post, and other national periodicals. He left Billboard in 1995.

Ed’s way with words and insight into country music made him an in-demand writer for liner-notes for albums and box sets by The Judds, Keith Whitley, Eddy Arnold, Guy Clark, Hank Snow, Chet Atkins, and others. Morris was named Print Journalist of the Year in 1993 by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).

In 1999, Ed began a 20-year tenure as a writer for CMT online. He continued in this role until the COVID pandemic of 2020, which led to staff layoffs. Well into his 90th year, Ed began writing a column for the Gazette. “And Then There’s This…” had 35 articles published before his writing had to take a back seat in March.

When I found out Ed had died on Sept. 17, I ran to the internet to read what I knew would be a slew of obituaries and notes from the hundreds of lives he impacted. A recent quote from Ed caught my attention: “You hear musicians say that they would do it for free if they weren’t paid for it. And I feel the same way about writing. I love to write with the anticipation of amusing people.” 

Ed never accepted a penny from the Gazette. His obituary states that he “craved” a deadline well into the last months of his life, and I feel so honored that my newspaper was the publication he stumbled upon. 

I always told Ed that I would read his grocery list. He had a way of writing that was funny, brutally honest and full of sharp wit. He never seemed to be at a loss for words. One of his columns (“When Words are Bread Crumbs”) concluded with this message: “OK, so here's the deal: If words fail you, learn more words.”

In addition to his love for words, anyone that knew Ed knew his pride for his wife, Norma, his four children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

When Ed still wanted to contribute to the Gazette but could not sit at his computer for long, he decided to publish excerpts from his book “Alzheimer's Love Story." [Click here to purchase your own copy.] 

The book pulls back the curtain on his marriage with Norma and the last years of her life – allowing readers to see a vulnerability our society tends to shy away from in the name of privacy. But Ed wanted to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s and encourage any readers in our small community who might be battling the disease. 

In his column “The Lady Vanishes” he wrote: “Often people in the throes of grief will say, “Words fail me.” But they don't, really. Even stumbling, imprecise words throbbing with pain keep memories alive and convey love in a way tombstones can't.” 

Thank you, Ed, for all of your words shared with the Gazette and our small community. I will always treasure your dedication to local journalism, your mentorship and your friendship to me. OK, I’m going to log off and learn more words. 

You can read all of Ed’s work published in the Gazette here.