Morrison Music Company (Seattle, Wash.)

Howell O. "Morrie" Morrison (1888-1984) and Alice Nadine Morrison (1892-1978) created the Pacific Northwest's first local popular music empire, the Seattle-based Morrison Music Company. The Morrisons' business began as a sheet music publication company, capitalizing on the success of Alice's hit songs, the royalties from which provided the company's start-up capital. The sheet music company evolved into a series of family-run business enterprises which included dance studios, instrumental groups, a recording and record manufacturing business, and a film production endeavor, under such names as: Morrison's Marimba Xylophone Orchestra, Morrison's Dancing Academy, Morrie's Musical Comedy Co., and Morrison Music Company, Electronic Recorders and Associates. Though the Morrison's son Lew and grandson Ken carried on the professional music legacy, the Morrison music empire came to an end after the deaths of Alice and Morrie Morrison in 1978 and 1984.