Matt Murphy

Biography

Matthew Tyler Murphy (December 29, 1929 – June 15, 2018), known as Matt "Guitar" Murphy, was an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was associated with Memphis Slim, The Blues Brothers and Howlin' Wolf. In 2012, Murphy was elected to the Blues Hall of Fame.

Early life

Murphy was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, and was educated in Memphis, Tennessee, where his father worked at the Peabody Hotel. Murphy learned to play guitar when he was a child.

Career

In 1948, Murphy moved to Chicago, where he joined the Howlin' Wolf Band, which at the time featured Little Junior Parker. In 1952, Murphy recorded with Little Junior Parker and Ike Turner, resulting in the release, "You're My Angel" / "Bad Women, Bad Whiskey" (Modern 864), credited to Little Junior Parker and the Blue Flames.
Murphy worked often with Memphis Slim, including on his debut album At the Gate of Horn (1959). Murphy recorded two albums and many singles with Chuck Berry and was also featured in works by Koko Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Buddy Guy, Etta James, and Otis Rush. He also performed with Willie Dixon. Freddie King is said to have once admitted that he based his "Hide Away" (1960) on Murphy's playing.
He gave a memorable performance in 1963 on the American Folk Blues Festival tour of Europe with his "Matt's Guitar Boogie".
In the 1970s, Murphy associated with harmonica player James Cotton, recording over six albums. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi attended one of their performances and subsequently asked Murphy to join the touring band of The Blues Brothers. Murphy appeared in the films The Blues Brothers (1980) and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), playing the husband of Aretha Franklin. He performed with the Blues Brothers Band until the early 2000s.
Murphy was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2012.

Personal life and death

Murphy suffered a stroke in the summer of 2002, but returned to perform a few years later. In 2011, at a private ceremony in South Miami, Florida, he married Kathy Hemrick. The couple later hosted a public reception at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at which the CD Last Call was released.
Murphy resided in Miami until he died from a heart attack on June 15, 2018, at age 88. His death was first announced on Facebook by his nephew Floyd Murphy Jr., who performed alongside his uncle.

Way Down South (1990)

Way Down South was Murphy's debut solo album, first released in 1990 with Discovery. It included contributions by his brother Floyd, and remained his most critically acclaimed solo project.

The Blues Don't Bother Me! (1996)

The Blues Don't Bother Me! was Murphy's second solo album, and the first released with Roesch Records. His nephew, Floyd Murphy Jr. played drums and co-composed two songs, and the label's namesake and executive producer, Joe Roesch, played drums on one song. Reception was more mixed. The title recording, "The Blues Don't Bother Me×The Blues Don't Bother Me1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ungrateful Woman5:422The Blues Don't Bother Me3:393Some Sanctified Funk2:014I Can't Hang3:485I Can Cry On My Own3:036Strut Your Stuff3:067Bye Bye Texas3:198It's Been A Long Long Time3:539We're Gonna Have A Party2:5610Bip Bop5:0211I Ain't Got No Time3:01", was licensed by Universal Records as the second track on the Blues Brothers 2000 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack which earned the RIAA Certified Gold Award of 500,000 units sold on March 16, 1998.

Lucky Charm (2000)

Lucky Charm was Murphy's third solo album, first released in 2000 with Roesch. It included contributions by his fellow Blues Brothers musicians Lou Marini and Alan Rubin, credited as The Blues Brothers Horns.

Personnel

Matt "Guitar" Murphy – composer, primary artist, bass, guitar (electric), vocals
Sax Gordon – guest artist, tenor saxophone, vocals (background)
The Blues Brothers Horns – horn section
Birch Johnson – trombone
Alan Rubin – trumpet
Lou Marini – tenor saxophone
Floyd Murphy Jr. – drums, guitar, vocals (background)
Leon Pendarvis – keyboards, organ, vocals
Tom Barney – bass
Scott Spray – bass
Howard Eldridge – vocals
David Foster – vocals (background)
Sable Roesch – vocals (background)
Vic Steffens – vocals (background)
Matt "Guitar" Murphy – producer
Sable Roesch – executive producer, art direction, vocals (background)
Joe Roesch – executive producer, art direction, mixing, photography, vocals (background)
Robert Sauber – cover painting, design
Vic Steffens – engineer, mixing

Last Call (2010)

Last Call was Murphy's last solo album, released in 2010 with Bluzpik. It was a live album featuring many popular blues songs and an instrumental guitar jam.

Appearances

With Sonny Boy Williamson

The Real Folk Blues (Chess, 1947-64 [1966])