Unlike bandmates Lou Reed, Doug Yule, John Cale, Maureen Tucker and Nico, Morrison never released a solo album or made recordings under his own name.

[2] He first met future Velvet Underground drummer Maureen Tucker during childhood, through her brother Jim, who attended Division Avenue High School in Levittown, New York, with Morrison.

By this time, Reed had met John Cale and was interested in starting a band, so when they encountered Morrison, he was invited to join.

[6] Reed, Cale, Morrison and percussionist Angus MacLise constituted the original line-up of the Velvet Underground, taking the name from Michael Leigh's sadomasochistic novel of the same name.

Although Morrison was a proficient bassist (as exemplified by his performances on "Sunday Morning", "Venus in Furs", "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "Lady Godiva's Operation"), he disliked playing the instrument.

In 1971, however, he began graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he would earn a PhD in medieval literature[2] (with a dissertation on the four signed poems of Cynewulf) in 1986.

[14][15] After leaving the Velvet Underground, Morrison's musical career was primarily limited to informal sessions for personal enjoyment, though he played in a few bands around Austin, Texas, most notably the Bizarros.

[16] Morrison's tenure in the capital of Texas made him a well-loved and admired member of the local music community as well as an influential voice.

During John Cale's renaissance in the late 1970s, Morrison occasionally sat in with his former bandmate on stages such as the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin.

In 1992, the core Velvet Underground line-up of Reed, Cale, Morrison and Tucker decided to reform for a tour and possible album.

[19] Upon their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, Reed, Cale and Tucker performed a song titled "Last Night I Said Goodbye to My Friend", which was dedicated to Morrison.

In March 2001, Morrison was remembered through a tribute set at the Austin Music Awards during the South by Southwest Festival.

[21] Morrison's surviving family includes his widow, Martha (whom he married in 1971), his son, Thomas, and his daughter, Mary Anne, all of whom reside in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Rain", "Ride into the Sun", "Foggy Notion", "Ferryboat Bill", "I'm Gonna Move Right In", "Coney Island Steeplechase" and "Guess I'm Falling in Love".