In 1948, Murphy moved to Chicago, where he joined the Howlin' Wolf Band, which at the time featured Little Junior Parker.[2] In 1952, Murphy recorded with Little Junior Parker and Ike Turner, resulting in the release, “You’re My Angel”/“Bad Women, Bad Whiskey”(Modern 864), credited to Little Junior Parker and the Blue Flames.[3][4]
Murphy's first signature guitar was manufactured by Cort Guitars. He visited the Cort factory in Korea in 1998, and later that year the MGM-1 was introduced. Most of these guitars have a sunburst or honey finish. They are made of agathis, with a mahogany neck, and have two humbuckers and single volume and tone controls. This model was produced until 2006; 78 were sold, according to factory numbers.[10] In 2011, Matt started playing Delaney Guitars and had a signature model made by Mike Delaney which he played until he died in 2018.
Personal life and death
Murphy suffered a stroke in the summer of 2002, but returned to perform a few years later.[10] In 2011, at a private ceremony in South Miami, Florida, he married Kathy Hemrick. The couple later hosted a public reception at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at which the CD Last Call was released.[9]
Murphy resided in Miami until he died from a heart attack on June 15, 2018, at age 88.[1][11] His passing was first announced on Facebook by his nephew Floyd Murphy Jr., who performed alongside his uncle.
Way Down South was Murphy's debut solo album, first released in 1990 with Discovery. It included contributions by his brother Floyd, and remained his most critically acclaimed solo project.[12]
The Blues Don't Bother Me! was Murphy's second solo album, and the first released with Roesch Records. His nephew, Floyd Murphy, Jr. played drums and co-composed two songs, and the label's namesake and exec producer, Joe Roesch, played drums on one song. Reception was more mixed.[13] The title recording, The Blues Don't Bother Me, was licensed by Universal Records as the second track on the Blues Brothers 2000 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack which earned the RIAA Certified Gold Award of 500,000 units sold on March 16, 1998.
Lucky Charm (2000)
Lucky Charm was Murphy's third solo album,[14][15][16] first released in 2000 with Roesch.[17] It included contributions by his fellow Blues Brothers musicians Lou Marini and Alan Rubin, credited as The Blues Brothers Horns.[18]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Matt "Guitar" Murphy[17]
^ abcLucky Charm (CD cover). Matt "Guitar" Murphy. United States: Roesch. 2000. RR0038.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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