Joe Morley (December 3, 1867 in Kinver, South Staffordshire, England – September 16, 1937 in London) was a British classic banjoist who achieved great fame and renown in his homeland and abroad.
About 1890, Morley formed a busker quartet consisting of himself, Fred Sanders, and Ben Hollingworth on banjos, and Alf Wentworth on concertina.
Morley was employed by Mr Donald Marshall, Leader and Creator of the Royal Osborne Minstrels.
Clifford Essex approached Morley to obtain his services after hearing him play with Donald's group The "Pierrots" went to London in December 1893 for a performance at the Prince's Hall.
He stayed with them for the next thirteen years and during that period he met the American banjo player Vess Ossman who happened to be in London for an appearance.
Morley became influenced by that meeting and bought himself a five-string banjo with frets and eventually learned to play it.
In September 1932, he joined Harry S. Pepper, Stanley Holloway, Doris Arnold, Jane Carr, and C. Denier Warren to revive the White Coons Concert Party show of the Edwardian era for BBC Radio.