Chad Morgan – the legendary Sheik Of Scrubby Creek – died at the ripe old age of 91 on New Year’s Day this year.
Chad died in hospital at Gin Gin near Bundaberg in Queensland.
Morgan, one of 14 children of a Wondai cane and timber cutter in the Great Depression, was born in South Burnett town Wondai in 1933.
Chad was a frequent Victorian tourist – especially with late duet partner A.P. Johnson.
They recorded a duet of Chad’s tune Never Tie A Chook’s Legs Together on the A.P Johnson Greatest Hits and Ex Misses CD released by Nu Country.
When Chad was arrested with a breathalyser reading of 2.25% in Mansfield high country en route to a Wandong country music festival he was represented in court on drink driving charges by lawyer parliamentarian Marie Tehan – mother of prominent Federal politician Dan Tehan.
Chad was a country comedy ace with his songs The Sheik of Scrubby Creek, I’m My Own Grandpa, The Shotgun Wedding, Double Decker Blowflies and There’s Life In The Old Dog Yet.
A permanent exhibition in honour of Chad opened in Childers, Queensland, in August, 2024.
Morgan was inducted into Tamworth Hands of Fame in 1979, Roll of Renown in 1987 and received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2004.
Chad promoted one of his books Seventy Years In The Making by revered veteran journalist and author Anna Rose who discovered Chad when she was wed to late musician, author and Tamworth Country Music Capital News editor Jazzer Smith.
Chad frequently appeared on Nu Country FM and Nu Country TV.
Nu Country TV producer David Dawson first saw Chad live in his hometown Warrnambool in the sixties and often interviewed him.
Here are the links to our Nu Country features on Chad.
