BLISS (Rachel Morrison)

Singer songwriter, Rachel Morrison and bassist Paul Ralphes founded BLISS in the mid 80’s. The pair met at Warwick University where Rachel was studying Theatre and Paul Film. They were later joined by another ex Warwick contemporary Paul Sirett (guitars) now a successful playwright, Chris Baker (drums) and Roger Askew (keyboard, piano, Hammond Organ). By 1987 they had signed to Island Music publishing and Survival, an independent record label and released two singles “I Hear You Call” and “Your Love Meant Everything”.

Signing to EMI Parlophone later that year, Bliss recorded their debut album, Loveprayer, produced by Hugh Jones and Paul Ralphes. With its iconic Hammond Organ and soaring Gospel tone the album has stayed the test of time. The Album design and promotion involved seminal artists across the field of music and media. The cover was designed by Stylorouge (Dr John, Morrissey, Stereophonics) showcasing early photography by The Douglas Brothers (Anish Kapoor, Susan Sontag, Kazuo Ishiguro) and complemented by extensive touring and mainstream TV performances in mainland Europe and Brazil. Such was the quality and kudos of Rachel’s voice and the band, they earned supports with numerous legendary artists: Gypsy Kings, Neville Brothers, Van Morrison, Chris Isaac, Roachford and Paul Simon. Parlophone’s rerelease of the single “I Hear You Call” took Bliss to the higher reaches of the charts Italy, Germany and Brazil. Indeed in Brazil, Bliss was voted top International Artist of the 1989, above both Madonna and Simply Red.

More singles followed: “How Does I Feel The Morning After” and “I Won’t Let Go” both produced and directed by Howard Greenhalgh (Pet Shop Boys, Sound Garden, Cocteau Twins).

By the time they recorded their second album A Change in the Weather, in 1991, Bliss had changed line up, with guitarist Tom E Morrison (né Tommy Schmieder) and drummer Michael Witzel. Rupert Hine (Tina Turner, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Stevie Nicks) produced A Change in the Weather which featured guest appearances from Paul Carrack on Hammond Organ and Liam O’Maonlai (Hothouse Flowers) on Piano. The new BLISS line up toured extensively in Europe, perhaps making the mistake of turning down a worldwide support tour with Simply Red to focus on writing.

Sadly, due to restructuring within EMI Records a lot of bands lost their record contracts in the early 90’s, among them BLISS.

Meanwhile, Paul got married and moved to Brazil becoming a successful award winning producer and record company executive. Rachel and Tom married in 1992, moved to Germany, and started a family. They continued touring as an acoustic duo and with full band across Europe headlining as Rachel Morrison. Support tours included an unlikely but successful period with The Pogues, Maceo Parker, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Paul Carrack. During these years on the road, they recorded and released 2 independent albums, Live at Phoenix, and Rachel Morrison Live and Liberty on BMG Records.

1997, after the birth of their second child, they moved back to the UK and settled in Rachel’s home in North London.

The legendary band Underworld invited Tom to work as a sound engineer and programmer on their second Album “Beaucoup Fish”, and Live DVD “Everything Everything”

This introduction to the UK electronic music scene inspired Rachel and Tom to remix one of their acoustic cover songs (Nina Simone’s “Save Me”) into and exciting dance track which led to them being signed under the band name MEEKER to Darren Emerson’s Underwater Record Label.

“Save Me“ became Zoe Ball ‘s record of the week on her BBC Radio One morning show and led them to perform at the seminal dance clubs, Fabric, Ministry of Sound, Cream, Red Box, Creamfields Festival, and included an extensive UK club and University tour sponsored by Smirnoff and Cream.

Live Line up for these shows was:

Rachel Morrison – vocals | Tom E Morrison – guitars & Loops | Marc Layton Bennett – percussion later joined for full band shows in Germany, the UK and L.A. by Simon Willets – keyboards | Dan Warwick – bass

MEEKER released 3 singles on the Underwater Records from 2000-2001

MEEKER’s music was featured on soundtracks to the movies “The Tuxedo” (Jackie Chan) and “Sparkle” (Bob Hoskins, Lesley Manville) and the iconic British independent film, “London to Brighton”

In 2001 Rachel and Tom left the electronic dance scene as it’s late night lifestyle clashed with family life. They declined an album deal offer from Underwater records, and instead starting their own music production company Big Sky Song in 2007 writing and producing music for major corporate clients, TV and Film.

Union Square, one of the major UK independent Labels, commissioned them to produce 10 cover tracks with a Celtic influence, under Rachel Morrison’s name for their successful Simply Celtic Moods Compilation, which continues to be a big seller and also 10 Albums under various artists names for the Chill Out music scene.

BLISS always continued in the background with loyal friends and fans from around the world staying in touch.

In 2007, BLISS’ EMI back-catalogue was digitally released internationally and Spirit of Man – Best of Bliss Compilation was released on CD by Zounds Records Germany

In 2009, BLISS released their third studio album: My World Your World produced by Tom in their North London Studio and released on their own Big Sky Song Record Label. The album has been described as a celebration of diverse earthy and ethereal moods.

With Tom focusing on music production and composing for feature films in their own recording studio, Rachel started a second career in teaching, specialising in dyslexia.

Bonnie Tyler, for whom Tom is the front of house sound engineer since 2003, chose to record one of their songs titled “Move” for her current 2019 Album “Between the Earth and the Stars”. “Move” is also included in her 2019 “Between the Earth and the Stars” tour.

2019 sees the 30th anniversary of Loveprayer with Warner Records planning the release of the Album, re-mastered by Andy Jackson (Pink Floyd, David Gilmour) in Autumn 2019.

With the richness of years of live performing and life experience, BLISS takes their music back on the road with a combination of new songs and classic favourites. BLISS has maintained their authenticity and energy. Their music is more relevant and more powerful than ever.

BLISS Line up 2019

Rachel Morrison – vocals | Tom E Morrison – guitars | Edu Bisa Bisogno – keyboards | Kita Steuer – bass/ bv | Reynaldo Migliavacca Neto – drums

BLISS Line up 2024
Rachel Morrison – vocals | Tom E Morrison – guitars | Jenny Carr – keyboards | Kita Steuer – bass/ bv | Burkhard Mayer – drums

The World needs Bliss.