News Summary

• George Ivan 'Van' Morrison was born at 125 Hyndford Street in Bloomfield, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in August 1945.
• He was given his first guitar at the age of 11 and taught himself to play from a songbook containing tunes laid down by the famous country folk group, The Carter Family.
• The young Morrison also learned harmonica, piano, and saxophone, playing in various cover bands before joining the rock band Them in 1964.
• Morrison went on to carve out a highly successful solo career, beginning with his 1967 debut album, Blowin' Your Mind!