Editing Lee Morgan (section)

== Philadelphia Childhood ==

Edward Lee Morgan was born on July 10, 1938, in Philadelphia, growing up in a musical family that recognized and nurtured his exceptional talent. He began playing trumpet at age thirteen, progressing with such speed that within two years he was playing professionally with local bands. His early development reflected both natural ability and the supportive environment that Philadelphia's jazz community provided for young musicians, including access to mentors who could guide their development.<ref name="thomas">{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=J.C. |title=Chasin' the Trane: The Music and Mystique of John Coltrane |year=1975 |publisher=Doubleday |location=Garden City}}</ref>

Philadelphia's jazz scene in the 1950s was among the most vibrant in America, with clubs, after-hours joints, and jam sessions where young musicians could develop their skills alongside established professionals. Morgan absorbed this environment, his playing reflecting influences from both the city's hard bop tradition and the emerging modal approaches that John Coltrane, another Philadelphia musician, was developing. By his late teens, Morgan had developed a style that combined technical brilliance with emotional directness, his sound instantly recognizable for its fat tone and blues inflections.<ref name="mcmillan"/>