SOUND OF REDEMPTION: The Frank Morgan Story

By N.C. Heikin

By the age of 15, Frank Morgan was an accomplished saxophonist, playing with the likes of Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday. As his notoriety grew, so too did a steady heroin addiction, landing him in and out of jail for over 30 years. With so much incarcerated musical talent, the San Quentin jailhouse put together one of the country’s leading 16-piece jazz groups during the 1950s. Sound of Redemption offers a frank look into the ups and downs of Morgan's life and a reflective look at African-American culture in 1950s Los Angeles.