Meet Morton Perry
This local musician has discovered a unique way to enjoy downtown St. Augustine’s beautiful city streets.
Locals are familiar with the variety of performers around St. George St., but not the variety of reasons they might be performing.
Morton Perry is a soprano saxophone player who has been street-performing since 2009.
His performances began in Jacksonville under the main-street bridge, after being inspired by a saxophone player doing their own street performance.
“I said to myself if he has enough boldness to do it then I’ll give it a try. I was super nervous because it was my first time playing in public, but I tried it and I liked it” Perry said.
Perry was hooked from the first experience and eventually ventured to St. Augustine to perform.
“I liked the rush, the thrill, and the fear that came as a result of putting yourself out there. And it was better than playing in my mama’s bathroom,” Perry said.
His career as a musician began when he was in 6th grade, and he developed a large repertoire of songs that he could perform.
He uses this knowledge in his performances today so that he can reach a multigenerational crowd with his music.
“I see perfect strangers congregating together having a shared moment, celebrating something that’s going on in their neighborhood that they’ve never seen before,” Perry said.
Morton Perry smiles with his eyes on St. George St. in Downtown St. Augustine, Florida. By Kathryn Hennessy.
Perry plays the soprano saxophone on St. George St. in Downtown St. Augustine, Florida. By Kathryn Hennessy.
The reactions of people walking by on the street fuel Perry’s drive for street performing and keep him coming back.
“I get a certain type of love feedback on the street. I get it from the facial expressions that change when somebody is walking on the street. I see them far off and when they approach my music and my sound, I see a transformation of a frown from a grin. And that positivity is a ripple effect. If you can start smiling at me, then you can smile at someone who really needs it,” Perry said.
He wants to have a positive influence among the people on the street, and offer his talents so that others can enjoy them.
“I feel like I am serving the community through street performing. What I like to call it is atmospheric therapy,” Perry said.
Street performing takes courage and skill that everyone should appreciate when it is possible.
“Street performing is, to me, a lost art,” Perry said.