Randy Murray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randy Murray
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| Birth name | Charles Randall Murray |
| Born | 9 December 1955 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Genres | Rock music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1970s–2017 |
Charles Randall "Randy" Murray (born December 9, 1955) is a talented Canadian rock guitarist and singer. He is best known for being a long-time member of the famous rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, often called BTO. Randy Murray was a key part of the band for many years.
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Randy Murray's Early Life and Music
Randy Murray was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He grew up loving music and became a skilled guitarist and vocalist. In the late 1970s, he started playing in bands around British Columbia and Alberta.
Joining Bachman–Turner Overdrive
Randy Murray joined Bachman–Turner Overdrive in the late 1980s. This was a time when there were two versions of the band. He played with Tim Bachman's group. Later, from 1991 to 2005, he was part of the main BTO lineup. This group included Blair Thornton, Robbie Bachman, and Fred Turner. This lineup was the longest-lasting version of the band.
Other Musical Projects
Before and during his time with BTO, Randy Murray was involved in many other music projects.
Forming the Surreal McCoys
In 1988, Randy Murray helped form a classic rock band called the Surreal McCoys. This band was very popular at Vancouver's Roxy club.
Vox Phantom and The Invaders
In 1985, he released an EP (a short album) called Warm Hands/Cold Heart. He released this music under the name Vox Phantom. From 1984 to 1989, he also worked with Dave Reimer in a classic rock band called the Invaders.
Other Bands in the Early 1980s
In the early 1980s, Randy Murray was a member of a band called David Raven. They released an EP on the Radioactive label. He was also part of the Ennis-Murray Band with Paul Ennis, Mike Rogers, and Jeff Sugarman. In the late 1970s, he played with a band called X-Static.
Life Beyond Music
Randy Murray also had a career outside of performing music.
Teaching and Radio
From 1989 to 1992, Randy Murray taught music. He also made custom recordings for people. During this time, he hosted a radio talk show in Prince George, British Columbia.
Work in Communications
In January 2006, Randy Murray started working at the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster’s Cathedral Church in Vancouver. He was a Communications and Development Associate. On July 15, 2009, he became the Communications Officer for the Anglican diocese. He retired from this role on December 15, 2023.
Retirement from Public Performance
Randy Murray continued to perform music sometimes around his hometown of Vancouver. However, he officially retired from public performances in 2017.
