Matt Murphy

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Matt Murphy (2011)

Matthew Tyler Murphy (born December 29, 1929 in Sunflower , Mississippi - † June 15, 2018 ), known as Matt "Guitar" Murphy , was an American blues guitarist.

Life

Murphy was born in the Mississippi Delta in 1929 , grew up in Memphis and learned to play the guitar in the 1940s. In the early 1950s he and his brother Floyd were an integral part of the Memphis blues scene. He was a member of various bands before moving to Chicago . There he played in Memphis Slim's band for seven years , although the pianist shied away from guitarists. But so unusual was his talent that Memphis Slim made an exception. Matt Murphy played guitar on Memphis Slim's recordings for United from 1952 to 1954 and the Vee Jay albums in 1958 and 1959. He took part in recordings under the band name "The Sparks" with Sam Chatman (bass, vocals) and John Calvin (saxophone). He toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival in 1963 and also made recordings in Denmark with Sonny Boy “Rice Miller” Williamson . In the 1970s he could be heard on recordings by James Cotton. He became internationally known for his film role in Blues Brothers . There he played the husband of Aretha Franklin , who was persuaded by the Blues Brothers to return from retirement. He also became a permanent member of the Blues Brothers Band , with which he also went on tour . The film appearance and the tours with the Blues Brothers Band increased his popularity enormously. He did not record his first solo album until 1990, with the support of his brother Floyd Murphy.

In the course of his musical career he played with numerous greats of the blues, including Howlin 'Wolf , Junior Parker , Ike Turner , James Cotton , Otis Rush , Etta James , Sonny Boy Williamson II. , Chuck Berry and Joe Louis Walker . He played with Memphis Slim over and over again over a period of 20 years. Murphy has also performed with his own band, the Matt "Guitar" Murphy Band .

After a stroke in the summer of 2002 and a subsequent long-term therapy, Murphy managed to play the guitar at a high level again from 2007 and to perform again in public. He died in June 2018 at the age of 88.

Discography

Albums

  • 1990: Way Down South (Antone's)
  • 1996: Blues Don't Bother Me (Roesch)
  • 2001: Lucky Charm (Roesch)
  • 2010: Last Call (Bluzpik)

DVD movies and music

  • 1980: Blues Brothers
  • 1998: Blues Brothers 2000
  • 2005: Life And Hard Times of Guy Terrifico
  • 2009: US Blues Tour '63

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bruce Haring: Matt “Guitar” Murphy Dies: Blues Brothers Guitarist And Noted Sideman Was 88. In: deadline.com . June 15, 2018, accessed June 16, 2018 .
personal data
SURNAME Murphy, Matt
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Murphy, Guitar (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American blues guitarist
DATE OF BIRTH December 29, 1929
PLACE OF BIRTH Sunflower (Mississippi) , Sunflower County , Mississippi
DATE OF DEATH June 15, 2018