Dale Morris, one of the leading names in the ranks of Nashville music managers, who helped build up superstar careers for the group Alabama and then Kenny Chesney nearly from scratch, died Friday at 89. A representative said Morris died in his sleep. Lightning struck twice for Morris, as he oversaw the rise of Chesney from a country also-ran into the genre’s most reliable stadium-filler, who was named Entertainer of the Year four times in the 2000s by both the CMAs and ACMs, and who has enjoyed 32 No. 1 country smashes.
Said Higham, “He was larger than life, and never met a dream he couldn’t build. Dale Morris gave me my first internship, and I never wanted to go anywhere else. He saw things in people, in me, in Kenny, and inspired everyone to reach beyond what we thought possible.
Maybe it’s how much he loved life, loved his family, loved us.” Morris was married to his wife, Earline, for 68 years. He was preceded in death by a son, Tim. Survivors include the couple’s daughter-in-law, Jennifer, grandchildren Zack, Colton (and wife Mary Blair), Nick (and wife Shelby) and Kendall, and great grandchildren Mary Dee and Gus.
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