Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts - Angel of the Morning

Rush was born on January 26 and grew up in the north end of Seattle, Washington. As a child, she studied classical piano for 10 years.

In 1960, she auditioned for a band (directed by her first husband) that played sock hops. Next, she was part of Merrilee and Her Men, doing covers of male pop hits. Then she joined a Seattle rhythm and blues group called Tiny Tony and the Statics.

Merrilee and the Turnabouts was formed in 1965. One of the group’s roadies worked for Paul Revere and the Raiders, who were doing a tour in the South in 1967 and invited Merrilee to be their opening act.

Merrilee’s rendition of “Angel of the Morning” was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, in early 1968 and was produced by Chips Moman and the late Tommy Cogbill. Released by Bell Records, it climbed to #7 in the US charts that year, and reportedly reached No. 1 in seven countries. The song garnered Rush a Grammy Nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. She was nominated alongside Grammy royalty in Barbra Streisand (“Funny Girl”), Dionne Warwick (“Do You Know the Way to San Jose”), Aretha Franklin (“I Say a Little Prayer”), and Mary Hopkin (“Those Were the Days”).

She appeared on numerous television shows in the 1960s and 1970s, including American Bandstand, The Joey Bishop Show, Happening, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, The Everly Brothers Show, Something Else hosted by John Byner, and many more.

“Angel of the Morning” was written by Chip Taylor (born James Wesley Voight, younger brother of actor Jon Voight and uncle to actress Angelina Jolie), who also wrote “Wild Thing”, a hit for The Troggs in 1966, and “I Can’t Let Go”, a hit for The Hollies in the UK. Rush’s recording of “Angel of the Morning” was featured prominently in the film Girl, Interrupted for which Jolie won an Academy Award. “Angel of the Morning” has also been featured in the major motion pictures Jerry Maguire and Fingers starring Harvey Keitel.

In 1971, Merrilee signed with Scepter Records and released one single, a cover of Carole King song “Child Of Mine”. While that was Merrilee’s lone release on Scepter, she cut several tracks for the label including a femme version of the Billy Joel classic “She’s Got A Way” (He’s Got A Way). In 1976, Merrilee would sign with United Artists Records. While at U/A she released three singles, “Could It Be Love I Found Tonight”, “Save Me”, and “Rainstorm”. Her self-titled album for the label was released in 1977.

Merrilee now lives in the countryside near Seattle, in a century-old farm house built by her grandfather. She continues to perform with her own band and in Rock and Roll nostalgia shows across the country. She is married to singer-songwriter and entertainer Billy Mac and together they have a successful Old English Sheepdog-breeding business.

01 – It’s worth it all
02 – Sandcastles
03 – Billy sunshine
04 – Handy
05 – San Francisco
06 – Angel of the morning
07 – That kind of woman
08 – Working girl
09 – Observation from flight 285
10 – Hush
11 – Do unto others
12 – Sunshine and roses