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At 83, Murphy sometimes
feels the effects of hi years on the road and the hundreds
and hundreds of one night stands, but his fingers are
youthful, astute and nimble. Gracefully acknowledging his
years, Murphy says “ … music is my medicine.”
Dozens of musicians and
singers will pay tribute to Murphy on Thursday, February 5,
including pianist Josh Silver and drummer Nelson Overton.
Murphy, a Toledo native,
graduated in 1952 from Scott High School and went straight
into the armed services in time to put in a stint in the
Korean War. Upon his discharge he started playing bass … and
hasn’t stopped since.
Louis Payne fronted the
first band Murphy played for. “I was on the road with him
for a couple of years,” Murphy told The Truth back in 2002.
“Back then I lived in Worcester, Massachusetts. I got
married and divorced. The family thing didn’t work out. But
that marriage did produce Murphy’s Quintet, his five kids:
Kathleen, Deborah, Jacqueline, Sherry and Kevin.
When the marriage failed,
Murphy packed up his bass and returned to Toledo. He played
at the old Club M&L where the house band included Candy
Johnson and John Mast. But then the raod bug bit him again
and he traveled with the Glenn Covington group to places
like Florida, Las Vegas, Puerto Rica and the Bahamas “… all
the big resorts,” he recalled.
“We later wound up playing
a lot of Southern venues, places like Mobile and Arkansas.
But those were always good audiences,” said Murphy. “That’s
one of the reasons why I finally decided to open my own
club. I was always traveling and going to so many different
places.
Murphy – and his late
business and life partner, Joan Russell – held court at
Murphy’s Place, first on Madison Avenue and later continuing
at 151 Water Street for many years.
It is fitting that
Murphy’s 83rd birthday will be celebrated on the
water but, this time, on the opposite bank of the Maumee at
Forresters (formerly Navy Bistro) on the River. The doors
will open at 6:45 p.m. |
