Behind the songs...
If you were curious as to where some of the song ideas come from in his songwriting and original music then keep reading. And if you follow him on social media you know he remains to be more of a mystery than an artist. So keep reading.
Born in the west in the state of Oregon. Raised in the sticks somewhere between Forest, Langlade and
Oneida counties in Northern Wisconsin. The outdoors is a way of life. Always has been. Learned to hunt and fish at an early age and working outside of the classroom was expected. A Crandon Cardinal grade schooler, Antigo Red Robin high schooler and Bethel Royal college athlete, with plenty of learning lessons and life changing moments in between.
You might find some of Tj's early musical influences in his debut album 'Live and Learn'. AC/DC's Angus and Malcom Young's guitar tones flooded his childhood and teenage years and Rob Thomas' vocals and Matchbox 20 lyrics haven't left his head since Yourself or Someone Like You album hit the shelves back in 1996. You could find Eric Church and Dierks Bentley CDs in Tj's 2001 F150 back in high school.
Picked up a guitar after the age of 21 with a strong desire to write his own music. In 2014, Tj got his first experience in live music playing guitar and singing harmonies in a trio named Whiskey Nights. Tj had his first ever songwriting credit, 'Northern Sky', which was cut by the band in 2015. The song was also featured in a music video made by Gongshow Hockey. After graduating from Bethel University in 2016, the trio Whiskey Nights came to a halt respectfully due to life commitments among the band. With a burning passion to write his own music and a year of vocal lessons, Tj moved forward as a lead singer in a duo named Crossing Croix formed with his best friend Beau. The duo cut their debut EP album in 2017 and took off traveling the country playing in honky tonks, dive bars and festivals. It was after getting fired in the middle of a show in Colorado for rocking too hard, playing original music and not "fitting the scene", that Tj took the next jump to a solo country artist with best friend Beau still playing guitar and band leader. Tj was also playing guitar and travelling the country with Canadian country singer Jason McNabb on the side, with opportunities to share the stage with names such as Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Billy Currington, Cody Johnson, Craig Morgan, Koe Wetzel, and many more...
In 2019, Tj Morrow stepped into the scene joining the Midwest Country Music Organization and releasing his debut EP album, titled 'Live and Learn'. Crowd favorite and heavily favorited single 'Dive Bar' was written and released in 2020. In 2021, the Midwest CMO recognized Tj Morrow as a New Artist of the Year nominee as well as a Song of the Year nominee with single Cheyenne; co-written with Jason McNabb and good friend Anderson Daniels. The single 'Off Road', written by Tj, Ben Richard and Anderson Daniels was released in the spring of 2022. In the fall of 2023, Hopeless and Time were released. Since then, he has opened for Phil Vassar, Josh Gracin, Jerrod Neimann, Blackhawk, Cassadee Pope, and former Journey vocalist Steve Augeri.
You can catch the 33 year old playing across Wisconsin and Minnesota either on a big stage at a festival or with just his guitar and some patrons at a small dive bar. The ride has been wild as he has been literally living the dream he has been chasing.
Take it for what it may be worth.... You gotta live before you learn!