Matt "Guitar" Murphy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matt Murphy
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Murphy in 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Tyler Murphy |
| Also known as | Matt "Guitar" Murphy |
| Born | December 29, 1929 Sunflower, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | June 15, 2018 (aged 88) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1948–2018 |
| Labels | Antone's, Roesch, Bluzpik |
| Associated acts | The Blues Brothers, Howlin' Wolf, Memphis Slim, James Cotton, Chuck Berry |
Matthew Tyler Murphy (born December 29, 1929 – died June 15, 2018), known as Matt "Guitar" Murphy, was an amazing American blues guitarist. He was famous for playing with big names like Memphis Slim, The Blues Brothers, and Howlin' Wolf.
Contents
Early Life: Matt's Start
Matt Murphy was born in Sunflower, Mississippi. He grew up and went to school in Memphis, Tennessee, where his dad worked at the famous Peabody Hotel. Matt started learning to play the guitar when he was just a kid.
Matt's Music Career
Moving to Chicago and Early Recordings
In 1948, Matt Murphy moved to Chicago, a big city for blues music. There, he joined the Howlin' Wolf Band. At that time, another great musician named Little Junior Parker was also in the band. In 1952, Matt recorded songs with Little Junior Parker and Ike Turner. They released songs like "You’re My Angel" and "Bad Women, Bad Whiskey."
Playing with Blues Legends
Matt Murphy often worked with Memphis Slim, a famous blues pianist. He played on Memphis Slim's first album, At the Gate of Horn, in 1959. Matt also recorded two albums and many singles with Chuck Berry, who was a rock and roll pioneer. He also played with other legendary artists like Koko Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Buddy Guy, Etta James, and Otis Rush. He even performed with Willie Dixon. It's said that Freddie King, another guitar legend, based his famous song "Hide Away" on Matt Murphy's guitar style.
European Tours and The Blues Brothers
In 1963, Matt gave a memorable performance in Europe. He was part of the American Folk Blues Festival tour and played his song "Matt's Guitar Boogie."
In the 1970s, Matt teamed up with harmonica player James Cotton. They recorded more than six albums together. One day, actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi saw Matt play. They were so impressed that they asked him to join their band, The Blues Brothers. Matt appeared in The Blues Brothers movie in 1980 and Blues Brothers 2000 in 1998. In the movies, he played the husband of singer Aretha Franklin. He continued to perform with the Blues Brothers Band until the early 2000s.
In 2012, Matt Murphy was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Matt's Guitars
Cort Signature Guitar
Matt Murphy had his own special guitar made by Cort Guitars. It was called the MGM-1. He visited the Cort factory in Korea in 1998. These guitars often had a sunburst or honey color. They were made from agathis wood with a mahogany neck. They also had two humbucker pickups, which help make the guitar sound strong. This model was made until 2006.
Delaney Signature Guitar
In 2011, Matt started playing guitars made by Delaney Guitars. Mike Delaney made a special signature model just for him. Matt played this guitar until he passed away in 2018.
Personal Life and Passing
In 2002, Matt Murphy had a stroke. But he was strong and returned to playing music a few years later. In 2011, he married Kathy Hemrick in a private ceremony in South Miami, Florida. A month later, they had a public party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This party also celebrated the release of his CD, Last Call.
Matt Murphy lived in Miami until he passed away. He died from a heart attack on June 15, 2018, at 88 years old. His nephew, Floyd Murphy Jr., who also played music with him, shared the sad news on Facebook.
Solo Albums by Matt Murphy
Way Down South (1990)
Way Down South was Matt Murphy's first solo album. It came out in 1990. His brother, Floyd, also played on this album. Many people thought this was his best solo work.
The Blues Don't Bother Me! (1996)
The Blues Don't Bother Me! was Matt's second solo album. His nephew, Floyd Murphy Jr., played drums and helped write two songs. The main song from this album, "The Blues Don't Bother Me," was even used in Blues Brothers 2000 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. That soundtrack sold over 500,000 copies!
Lucky Charm (2000)
Lucky Charm was Matt Murphy's third solo album, released in 2000. Some of his fellow Blues Brothers musicians, like Lou Marini and Alan Rubin, played horns on this album.
Last Call (2010)
Last Call was Matt Murphy's final solo album. It was released in 2010.
See also
- List of Chicago blues musicians
- List of guitarists by genre
- Long Beach Blues Festival
- San Francisco Blues Festival
