Morey Sullivan
BVB leader Morey Sullivan began with Hank in 1979 and was his band leader for most of the time until Hank’s passing in 2007. Morey is the last major western swing band leader that worked with the creator of the band. Morey remembers the first time he worked with Hank, “He said to me, be yourself, don’t copy anyone. I’m not Bob Wills, I love Bob Wills, but I have my own music and I don’t copy Bob. Bob Wills was an original and he would want everyone to be playing music in their own style—not imitating him. I’ve never forgotten that. And I’ve taken his advice to play music in my own style.”
Morey was raised in a musical family in the Kansas City area, soaking up the heavy four-beat swing and vibe of Kansas City jazz. All the family sang and played instruments and sang country harmonies. He attended and sat in on jam sessions where former members of the OK Blue Devils, Count Basie, Benny Moten and others were playing swing music. That music in KC is part of what western swing is comprised. Morey has also worked with BJ Thomas, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeanne Seely and Jack Green, Don Williams and countless others, and of course, with the stable of stars from the Jim Halsey agency, Hank’s manager and agent.
Morey is a member of several western-swing halls of fame associations and the Kansas Music hall of fame. One is his fondest memories is being chosen by Kanas Governor Finney to produce and direct a musical variety show of American music on a two-week tour of Russia in 1994.
The resume of the Brazos Valley Boys most importantly rests upon the thousands of fans entertained over the decades. Morey stated, “we have fun playing our music and we want fans to have a good time listening and dancing. My job is to bring new fans, younger fans to enjoy what we do. To expose new generations to our music and in doing so, the BVB will exist well into the future. I don’t want to be music of the past—I want to be music of NOW!”
