Murray Cook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Murray Cook
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Cook in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Murray James Cook |
| Born | 30 June 1960 Cowra, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
Murray James Cook, born on June 30, 1960, is an Australian musician, actor, and DJ. He is best known as one of the original members of the popular children's music group, The Wiggles. Murray played guitar, sang, and helped write many of their songs. Even after he stopped performing full-time in 2012, he still helped with the group's creative work. For a while in 2013, he even helped manage their tours. Today, he continues to make music with other bands, like The Soul Movers, a soul-rock group from Sydney. Murray is also the father of Georgia Munro-Cook, a talented wheelchair basketball player.
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Murray Cook and The Wiggles
Murray Cook went to university to study early childhood education. There, he met Anthony Field and Greg Page. Together, they formed The Wiggles in 1991. Before The Wiggles became very famous, Murray worked as a preschool teacher for two years. He was known for being great with children.
As a Wiggle, Murray wore a red skivvy, which is a type of turtleneck shirt. He played guitar and sang many of the group's songs. He even came up with The Wiggles' famous finger-wagging move. He saw professional bowlers do it on TV and thought it would be fun for the band. Murray was often seen as the thoughtful and analytical member of the group. He helped the band make important decisions.
On May 17, 2012, it was announced that Murray, along with Greg Page and Jeff Fatt, would be retiring from performing with The Wiggles. Simon Pryce took Murray's place as the red Wiggle. Even after retiring from performing, Murray and the others continued to help with the group's creative ideas and production. In 2013, Murray even worked as The Wiggles' tour manager.
Other Music Projects
After leaving The Wiggles, Murray Cook continued to explore his love for music. He played lead guitar for a band called The Proposition. He also helped produce a play called Sons of Sun in 2015. This play was about a famous American music producer named Sam Phillips.
In 2015, Murray met Lizzie Mack, a singer from the Sydney soul-rock band, The Soul Movers. He started writing songs with her. Murray decided to make The Soul Movers his main music project. In 2017, the band recorded an album called Testify. This album featured energetic blues, soul, and rock music. They recorded it at The Wiggles' studio. Jeff Fatt, another original Wiggle, even played keyboards on the album.
In 2019, The Soul Movers released another album called Bona Fide. This album was recorded in famous soul music studios in the United States. These included Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, and FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Murray and The Soul Movers also performed at a big music festival called Splendour in the Grass in July 2018.
Murray's Personal Life
In 1986, before The Wiggles, Murray joined a band in Sydney called Bang Shang a Lang. Some of his biggest musical inspirations include famous bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. Murray is married to Meg Munro. They have two children, including their daughter, Georgia Munro-Cook, who is a wheelchair basketball player. In 2020, Murray shared that he had to have open heart surgery for a health issue.
Awards and Recognition
In 2010, Murray Cook and the other three original members of The Wiggles received a special award. They were made Members of the Order of Australia. This award recognized their great service to the arts, especially children's entertainment. It also honored their support for many charities.
