For more than fifty years, Scott Morgan has made a career off the back of his gritty, soulful voice and guitar.

If any Michigan born and bred musician embodies the raw energy and authenticity of Detroit’s rock scene, it’s him.

In the mid-60s, Morgan was lead singer and rhythm guitarist in the Ann Arbor garage rock band the Rationals, with regional hits like “Respect” (a cover that was a predecessor of Aretha Franklin’s version) and “I Need You” garnering them a loyal Midwest following for their heavily R&B, fuzz-driven guitar, and soul influenced sound, which reflected their deep love of Motown and the British Invasion.

After The Rationals split in the 1970s, Morgan toured with Detroit rock veterans Fred “Sonic” Smith (MC5), Gary Rasmussen (The up), and Machine Gun Thompson (MC5).

Morgan’s vocals, guitar, and songwriting blended hard rock roots with soul swagger, and the band quickly became a cult favorite in the Detroit Rock scene, releasing just one official single: the now classic “City Slang.”

In later decades, Morgan fronted many other bands, including Scots Pirates, Hydromatics, Powertrane, and the Solution (a soul revival project featuring Swedish rocker Nicke Royale).

Such outings showed he could play gritty rock, straight-ahead soul, and blues – all without ever losing his signature edge.

Scott Morgan is a man defined by his gritty guitar riffs, soulful vocals, and a strong blue-collar work ethic.

He has proven that Detroit’s music culture can cross-pollinate between the soul of Motown and the rock revolution, all over the course of a career that was never defined not by just one chart-topping hit, but rather, by longevity, authenticity, and a refusal to ever compromise his sound in the name of commercial trends.

If music is muscle, Morgan forms the connective tissue that binds the raw beginnings of garage rock, the thunder of proto-punk, and the grit of soul together into one unforgettable sound.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: August 20, 2025