Dale Morris, Nashville Manager Who Guided Careers of Alabama & Kenny Chesney, Dies at 89

Dale Morris, the legendary Nashville artist manager who helped build the superstar careers of Alabama and Kenny Chesney, has died. He was 89.

Morris died peacefully in his sleep Friday night (Aug. 21), his representatives said. A specific cause of death was not provided.

“He lived a big, bold, beautiful, blessed life, and I’m holding onto that right now,” Clint Higham, president of Morris Higham Management, said in a statement about his mentor and longtime business partner. “It’s the end of an era.”

Morris began his career in the music industry as a songwriter, penning Johnny Paycheck’s 1967 single “Don’t Monkey With Another Monkey’s Monkey” before turning his attention to the business side.

After launching Dale Morris & Associates, Morris was introduced to the up-and-coming band Alabama in 1979 at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Under his management, Alabama went on to score 33 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart — the most among duos or groups — and became an unstoppable touring force, bringing production values on par with those of the era’s biggest rock acts.

In the early 1990s, Morris forged a professional relationship with aspiring country singer Chesney, who would go on to become a Country Music Hall of Famer and one of the highest-grossing country touring artists of all time, according to Billboard Boxscore. Chesney also holds the record for the most No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, with 33.

Morris’ other clients included Martina McBride, Barbara Mandrell, Jake Owen, Old Dominion, Brandon Lay, Ryan Griffin and Walker County.

“He was larger than life, and never met a dream he couldn’t build,” Higham said. “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.”

In 2018, Paradigm (now called THE·TEAM) acquired Dale Morris & Associates, the in-house booking business of Morris and Higham’s firm, Morris Higham Management.

During his career, Morris also received the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award in 2014.

Morris was married to his wife, Earline, for 68 years. He was preceded in death by his son, Tim. He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Jennifer; grandchildren Zack, Colton (and wife Mary Blair), Nick (and wife Shelby) and Kendall; and great-grandchildren Mary Dee and Gus.

“We’re so blessed to have had 90 years with him as the patriarch of our family,” his grandson Zack Morris said in a statement. “Thank you to our music industry family and to his vast community of friends in Nashville, Boca and beyond for loving him all these many years.”

A celebration of life is being planned for later this fall, with details to be announced in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, Morris’ family is asking for donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.