Joan Morris, born in 1943 in Portland, Oregon, is an American mezzo-soprano and cabaret singer. Her musical journey began with a focus on older popular songs from the early 20th century, extending to contemporary cabaret and songs dating back to the 1860s. Morris' career took off when she partnered with composer/pianist William Bolcom, her husband. Their collaborative recordings for labels such as Nonesuch, RCA, Columbia, and Arabesque include works by notable songwriters like Kern, Gershwin, Porter, and Rodgers and Hart. Notable albums from their extensive discography are After the Ball: A Treasury of Turn-of-the-Century Popular Songs (1974), which was Grammy nominated, and Moonlight Bay (1999). Their performances often featured songs by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Morris and Bolcom have taught at the University of Michigan for many years. In 2015, they announced a curtailment of their concert activities, leading to an ad hoc "Farewell Tour."
