Jim Morrison: Poet

Creative Legends of the DMV

The legendary poet and singer Jim Morrison from the seminal 60s rock group The Doors is on the table to discuss. Centered around the poetry of James Douglas Morrison rather than his superstardom and rebellious ways, Evan reveals various tidbits of the young Morrison's time as a teenager in Alexandria, VA sowing his roots to be a legend of the DMV.
Born in Melbourne, Florida December 8th, 1943, Jim Morison was a flash of lightening with deep words to share about the mystery of the human condition. Believing himself or presenting his mystique as a mix of ancient Native American shamanism with music and words, it amplified the music of Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krueger, and John Densmore. Their music and their live shows took things into theatrical and mythological realms with Jim leading the journey on a ride that on the surface and within its times was psychedelic but as time has gone on, it has proven to be a deeply reflective account of someone on the periphery of genius given his literary acumen that had been organic and obsessive ever since he was a pre teen.
Eventually, the Morrison family found themselves back in Alexandria in 1959 for a longer stint after a short one when Jim was just a boy. These years proved formative and expressive for the young mind of Jim Morrison as he formed some friendships that while not lasting, revealed some confidences and some mysterious ideas about his future.
With a shout out to local author DMV Mark Opsasnick for many stories about Jim in this episode, writer of The Lizard King Was Here and Orange Brick in Warm Sun and many other books about the DMV music scene, Evan highlights the poetry and some essences of poetry in general through the arc of the short life of Jim Morrison.