When I go to produce a show, sometimes my scripts run a little long, so that after recording I wind up with an audio file that exceeds 58 minutes and 30 seconds. If it’s close, I can whittle down some of the commentary to squeeze in all the music. But if the first cut runs to, say, 1 hour and 1 minute, there’s no way I’ll be able to fit everything in. Something else has to go.
This weekend, I was very sorry to have to jettison Angela Morley. Morley was born Walter Stott on this date in 1924. Known professionally as Wally Stott, in 1970 he transitioned to a woman, undergoing sex reassignment surgery in Casablanca, of all places. Obviously, this was not a decision made lightly. It’s something he felt compelled to do, and it took guts.
As Stott, he was music director for “The Goon Show.” He also arranged and conducted for artists such as Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, and Shirley Bassey. As Morley, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her work on Stanley Donen’s film of Lerner & Loewe’s “The Little Prince” and again for her work on the Sherman Brothers’ “The Slipper and the Rose.” She also assisted John Williams on a number of his classic film scores, including “Star Wars,” “Superman,” “E.T.,” and “Schindler’s List,” and provided arrangements for the Boston Pops.
It was with some regret that I had to edit out her light music classic “Rotten Row,” but I figured, what the hell, if I said anything about her, it probably would have triggered a complaint from some crackpot anyway. Time was when the gender transition would have been considered an interesting biographical detail. Now it’s political Armageddon.
Happily for Morley, she was accepted for her talent and her professionalism, which is all anyone else should be concerned about.
Morley was married twice, both times to women. Stott met his second wife, Christine Parker, before his transition and she was supportive throughout. The marriage endured until Angela’s death in Scottsdale, AZ, in 2009, at the age of 84.
Somehow, I missed her centenary last year. Happy 101, Angela Morley!
Wondering why on earth ANYONE would consider having surgery in Casablanca in 1970, I came up with this when doing a Google search. It’s an interesting read.
“Rotten Row”
From “The Little Prince” (1974), with Bob Fosse as the snake
“The Slipper and the Rose” (1976)
“Watership Down” (1978), Morley taking over for Malcolm Williamson, who composed the first six minutes. “Keehar’s Theme” is a standout.
“The Liaison” for cello and strings
“Reverie” for violin and strings
Three-page memoir typed by Morley. Very quick reading and worthwhile.
Angela Morley speaks
Hour-long interview
1997 print interview in The Arizona Republic, in which she talks about her work with John Williams and others
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