Jimmy Murphy (musician)

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Jimmy Murphy (born October 11, 1925 in Birmingham , Alabama , † June 1, 1981 ) was an American country and rockabilly musician, songwriter and guitarist . Murphy was best known for his songs Sixteen Tons Rock 'n' Roll and Electricity .

Life

Childhood and youth

Jimmy Murphy was influenced by many different musical styles during his childhood. His father was a passionate fan of the blues musicians Leadbelly and Blind Boy Fuller . While working in his father's company, Murphy spent his free time playing music. He performed now and then, including on the local radio at times.

Career

In 1949 Murphy moved to Knoxville , Tennessee . He also got the chance to appear on the radio stations WROL and WNOX. There he met the guitarist Chet Atkins , who gave him the opportunity to record some demo tapes. RCA Victor became aware of the young Murphy and signed him in 1951. In January of the same year Murphy held his first session for RCA, which resulted in the single Electricity . However, his publications at RCA were unsuccessful and his contract was terminated.

He continued to appear on the radio until 1955, when producer Don Law Murphy landed a contract with Columbia Records . The publications from his first Columbia session received no public attention, probably because of the minimalist style, which was more reminiscent of the hillbilly pieces of the 1940s. In his second session with Columbia, he recorded several rockabilly tracks, including Sixteen Tons Rock 'n' Roll , Grandpaw's a Cat and My Gal Dottie , with Onie Wheeler on harmonica . But even these records did not seem to bring Murphy the desired success, despite the rockabilly style. In 1956, the Columbia contract expired and Murphy reappeared on the radio. In the 1960s he made a few records with various small labels, without success.

When his song Electricity was re-released in the 1970s , Murphy received far more public attention. His album of the same name even made it into the Billboard charts . A tour and another album were planned when Jimmy Murphy died in 1981. In 1989 Bear Family Records released a CD with his collected works.

Discography

year title Record company
1951 Electricity / Mother, Where Is Your Daughter RCA Victor
1951 Big Mama Blues / We Live a Long Long Time RCA Victor
1951 Educated Fool / Ramblin 'Heart RCA Victor
1952 That First Guitar of Mine / Love That Satisfies RCA Victor
1956 Hey Kitty Kitty / I'm Looking for a Mustard Patch Columbia
1956 Sixteen Tons of Rock 'n' Roll / My Gal Dottie Columbia
1956 Grandpaw's a Cat / Baboon Boogie Columbia
1963 (?) I Long to Hear Hank the Blues / Swing Steel Blues Ark
1963 My Feet's on Solid Ground / Wake Me Up Sweet Jesus Ark
1964 My Feet's on Solid Ground / Wake Me Up Sweet Jesus Rem
1964 There's No Use In Me Loving You / One Block From Home Midnite 816
1965 Half A Loaf Of Bread / Take This Message To Mother Rem Records
19 ?? EP
  • Gonna Throw My Suitcase Away
  • Holy Ghost Millionaire
  • You May Have A Million
  • God's getting Worried
  • Half A Loaf Of Bread
  • The Warning Song
 Loyal Records
  • Put Some Meat On Them Bones
  • Sweet Sweet Lips
 Columbia Records
(not released)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ according to other sources 1978
personal data
SURNAME Murphy, Jimmy
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American country and rockabilly musician, songwriter, and guitarist
DATE OF BIRTH October 11, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH Birmingham , Alabama
DATE OF DEATH June 1, 1981