Perth Amboy, NJ -- Morris Nanton passed away peacefully at home Sunday morning, November 15. He was born in Perth Amboy and lived there all his life. He served his country with honor in the U.S. Armed Forces with the 5th Army Division Band during the Korean War.

He graduated from Perth Amboy High School and Juilliard Conservatory of Music in New York after attending on full scholarship. Known throughout the metropolitan area, The Morris Nanton Trio performed for over 50 years; 53 of those years together with bassist extraordinaire, Norman Edge. They completed an unprecedented 22 year stand at the Cove in Roselle, where such jazz greats as Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Elliott, Sal Nestico, Babs Gonzalez and Joe Morello shared the spotlight with the group. They have performed at numerous Jazz festivals and universities, sharing the stage with the Count Basie Orchestra and Tito Puente. They have accompanied vocalists Jack Jones, Mel Torme, Nel Carter and Barbra Streisand, to name a few.

Their recordings include Flower Drum Song, Roberta and The First Jazz Piano Trio on the Warner Bros. label, Ray Ellis Orchestra and Chorus and Big Big Voice of Lovelace Watkins on the MGM label, and Something We've Got, Preface and Soul Fingers on the Prestige label. Their most recent recording on CD is A Christmas Present.

They have performed privately for Walter Cronkite, Eileen Ford, Architect Robert Moses, The New York Giants, and the Los Angeles engagement party and New York wedding of Marvin Hamlisch. Their recording of “Ja Da" was the first music to be heard on outer space, as the recording came over Apollo's radio during the first orbit around the earth.

Morris Nanton was inducted into the Perth Amboy High School Hall of Fame in March, 2001, “as one of the School's most illustrious graduates and acknowledges his exemplary history of service, leadership and many meritorious accomplishments."

The New York Times covered the trio's performance at Shanghai Jazz in May 2008, showering their performance with accolades in an article entitled “Jazz Survivors."

The Morris Nanton Trio had been performing at Shanghai Jazz in Madison up to and as recently as September 2009, and as a soloist at the Quay in Sea Bright on Sundays. Morris' last performance was Sunday September 27, 2009; the day before his 80th birthday.

He is predeceased by his parents, Edward and Elsie, and beloved sister-in-law, Ena. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Lisa, sons Seth and Jesse Nanton, brother LeRoy Nanton, nephews Dennis Nanton and Hugh Nanton and niece Lori Nanton-Harris and their families.

A viewing will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Perth Amboy, NJ on Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.- 9p.m. Funeral services will also be St. Peter's on Friday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Living Memorial Fund at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
183 Rector Street
Perth Amboy, NJ 08816
732-826-1594