Dear John, Well hell, another week, another Bluesman passes. This is getting old (so are we) but I guess we should accept it and keep on keepin' on. I realize many of you have read all about Matt Murphy and his history but I found this cool interview I wanted to share. Kind of quiet around here for big time headliners but Buddy Guy is coming with Jonny Lang to the celebrity In August. That oughta be real good. Around town we have the usual suspects laying it down for us all to see and hear. Remember, Showdown is getting closer by the day. We'd love to have any and all of you who play the Blues enter our contest for a chance to represent the Valley and all of AZ in the world's biggest Blues event. Hug somebody this week. You'll both feel good. Later y'all. Sincerely,
Jim Crawford, PBS
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R.I.P.
by Ben Crande
In 2012 Matt "Guitar" Murphy was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis, a ceremony that honored his six-decade career as a blues guitarist in bands with such legends as Howlin' Wolf, Memphis Slim, Muddy Waters and Etta James.If such an illustrious resume has been overshadowed by a midcareer supporting role in a big-screen farce made with two television comedians, well, the 82-year-old Murphy is at peace with that."Those are the boys. Those are my boys," Murphy says, admiring a framed 8-by-10, black-and-white promotional photograph of "The Blues Brothers" band that hangs matter-of-factly among the tropical paintings in the living room of the Kendall condo he shares with wife Kathy.Murphy, slightly stooped by age and a 2003 stroke, must look up at the image of the man many people remember from the film: broad shoulders, massive arms and the 1,000-watt smile that made the onscreen henpecking he endured to the tune of Aretha Franklin's "Think" even more of a hoot.Standing with Murphy in the photo, all in signature white shirts, black suits and sunglasses, are the stars of the hit 1980 film, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, as well as bandmates Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Tom "Bones" Malone, "Blue" Lou Marini, Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin, Murphy Dunne, Willie Hall, Steve Jordan, Tom Scott and David Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer.On a recent Sunday afternoon, Murphy is seated on a sofa beneath the photograph, five guitars of varying vintage layered on the cushion next to him, as he explains that it was Belushi who hunted him down to be in the film, which he called "a beautiful, good thing." It was also a game-changer: Two years later, Murphy toured for the first time with a band using his own name, and he appeared on a string of subsequent albums with "Blues Brothers" in the title.Belushi and Aykroyd cut their comedic teeth in Chicago, where Murphy also had earned a reputation in Windy City clubs. When it came time to cast the band in the Chicago-set "Blues Brothers," Murphy was a given."John Belushi ... came looking for me. He wanted me," Murphy recalls of the comedian who died 30 years ago. Belushi "just liked a little too much drugs. ... I don't know," Murphy says wistfully. "But he was a good man."He feels the same way about Aykroyd, who included Murphy in the "Blues Brothers 2000" sequel he made with John Goodman. Aykroyd, still an influential Hollywood actor, checks in on Murphy from time to time."He's a good man, definitely a good man. He sends me something every once in a while," Murphy says, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together.Murphy's performance schedule these days remains steady if reduced. He will play the Arts Garage in Delray Beach on Saturday, with other scheduled shows at the Calgary Blues Festival (Aug. 3), the ArtsPark in Hollywood (Sept. 22) and St. John's River Blues Festival (Nov. 17).His show on Saturday will, of course, include a heavy dose of his signature blues sound, a synthesis of influences picked up in some of the genre's more-hallowed ground: rural Mississippi, where he grew up; the Arkansas nightclubs across the river from Memphis (where he says Howlin' Wolf would sometimes stage fights so he could run off with the band's pay); and the urban haunts of Chicago.The Delta blues of West Memphis, Ark., mentor "Robert Junior" Lockwood, who died in 2006 at age 91, also echoes through Murphy's performances, most recently heard on CD in a December release of a 1986 live show, "Last Call at the 40 Watt."But, Murphy says, he'll also show off his appreciation of country music (favorites range from Ernest Tubb to Jimmy Vaughn) and jazz. A visitor mentions that he is unfamiliar with Murphy the jazz guitarist."Oh, really?" he says. With a sly smile he grabs a blue electric Valley Arts guitar - a gold plate on the back is engraved with his name - and slowly pulls it onto his lap and swings into a nimble "Misty." His bare feet slap out a rhythm on the white tile floor, where a large bottle of the pain reliever Aleve lies on its side.Murphy, who managed to make a career in nightclubs without developing a taste for drinks, smokes or drugs, says his health is good under the circumstances. The stroke claimed the use of his right side, including his string-picking hand. He had to teach himself to play again."At first it was a shock to me, but after a little while, I started to mess around and found out I could play pretty good," he says, opening and closing his fingers. "The whole miracle of it is, I can still move my hand and stuff. I don't know how that happened, but I can play."As if more proof were necessary, Murphy grabs a Delaney guitar (he has an endorsement deal, and is wearing a matching black T-shirt) and goes off on an extended riff he describes as "just the blues." He then takes a red Gibson and runs through a jaunty "Matt's Boogie," a song more than 60 years old that he closes with a flourish."Ha-ha, I was a teenager when I wrote this. Yeah, man," he says with a little of the old swagger. Murphy recounts living in Tennessee (he puts the accent on the first syllable) with his father, who worked in a gunpowder factory during World War II, then at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Murphy soon joined his father working in the kitchen."I used to work anywhere, it didn't matter. I was a working person," he says. "I always wanted to have a little money in my pocket and I wanted to get it the right way."Sixty years later, he came home from Memphis with a plaque from the Blues Hall of Fame, which sits unceremoniously on a bookcase, stacked behind some jars of medication and the key to the city of West Memphis, Ark., bestowed upon him by Mayor William H. Johnson. "Most of the keys I have don't fit anything," he says. Matt LIVE!!
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| | Out & About Tuesday, June 19 Wednesday, June 20 Blues Review Band, 4:30 p.m., Residence Inn, Chandler Bad News Blues Band, Every Wed., 9:30 p.m., Chicago Bar, Tucson Thursday, June 21 Eric Ramsey Hosts OPEN MIC, 6 p.m., Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix Hans Olson (EVERY THURSDAY), 6 p.m., Handlebar, Apache Junction Arizona Blues Project, 8 p.m., Harold's, Cave Creek Friday, June 22 Niki J Crawford, 8 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Hans Olson, 6 p.m., Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix Jc & The Juke Rockers, 7 p.m., Handlebar, Apache Junction Hoodoo Casters, 6 p.m., Desert Eagle Falcon Field, Mesa Leon J, 5:30 p.m., Paleo Kitchen, Flagstaff Blues Review Band, 7 p.m., Stone & Barrel, Sun Lakes Carvin Jones, 9 p.m., Lucky Break, Tempe Paris James, 7 p.m., D'Vine Wine, Mesa Saturday, June 23 Lindsey Beaver & The Hot Damns (EARLY SHOW), 6 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Soul Power Band, 9 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Hans Olson, 6 p.m., Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix Rocket 88s, 8 p.m., West Alley BBQ, Chandler JC & The Juke Rockers, 9:30 p.m., CK's Tavern, Phoenix Hoodoo Casters, 8 p.m., Lucky strikes, Apache Junction Blues Review Band, 8 p.m., American Italian Club, Phoenix Leon J, 7 p.m., Javelina Leap Winery, Page Springs Outback Blues Band, 5 p.m., American Legion Post 138, Tempe Paris James, 7 p.m., D'Vine Wine, Chandler Sunday, June 24 AZ Blues HoF induction Ceremony (see poster), 6 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Big Daddy D & The Dynamites, 3 p.m., Steel Horse Saloon, Phoenix Mikel Lander, 5 p.m., Maduro's Fine Cigars, Chandler Sugar Thieves, 10 p.m., Yucca Tap, Tempe Leon J, 2 p.m., Mountain View Pub, Cave Creek Carvin Jones, 1 p.m., Roadrunner, New River Rocket 88s JAM, 4 p.m., Chopper John's, Phoenix True Flavor Blues, NOON , Copper Star, Phoenix Monday, June 25 Carvin Jones, 8 p.m., Hard Rock, Phoenix |
Weekly Jams
Sunday
Bourbon Jack's JAM w/Kody Herring, 6 p.m., Chandler
NEW JAM! Sir Harrison, every other Sunday, The Windsock, Prescott
MONDAY
Bam Bam & Badness Open JAM, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix
Weatherford Hotel JAM, 6:30 p.m., Flagstaff
TUESDAY JAM Sir Harrison, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix
Rocket 88s, 6 p.m., The Last Stop (Old Hideaway West), Phoenix
Gypsy's Bluesday Night JAM, 7 p.m. Pho Cao, Tempe
Tailgaters JAM, 7 p.m., Glendale
WEDNESDAY Tool Shed JAM Party, 7 p.m., Draw 10, Phoenix
THURSDAY Tool Shed JAM Party, 7 p.m., Steel Horse Saloon, Phoenix Jolie's Place JAM w/Adrenaline, 9 p.m., Chandler Brad's Place JAM, 7 p.m., Ahwatukee (Every other Week)
Friday
Saturday Bumpin' Bud's JAM 2nd & 4th Saturdays JAM, 6 p.m., Marc's Sports Grill |
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| GOT BLUES? If you are a Blues musician, a group, or a club that features Blues music, and would like to be listed, please send your info to info@phoenixblues.org and we'll be happy to list your event in our weekly Out & About section of the newsletter |
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