With a career that spanned 30 years associated with the likes of Memphis Slim and Howlin’ Wolf, ironically Matt “Guitar” Murphy is best known as a member of the Blues Brothers band for the John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd movies.
Born in Mississippi (12/27/29-6/15/18), his family moved to Memphis when he was a boy, his dad working at the luxury Peabody Hotel there. He learned to play guitar listening to his aunt’s collection of 78s.
By the time he was 21 he had backed Howlin’ Wolf and played on sides by Bobby “Blue” Bland, Ike Turner and Junior Parker.
In 1952 Murphy headed to Chicago and was quickly welcomed into the Howlin’ Wolf band. It’s actually with vocalist/harmonica player Junior Parker that Murphy notched his first recording session on the 1952 release “You’re My Angel” b/w “Bad Women, Bad Whiskey” (Modern 864) credited to Little Junior Parker and the Blue Flames.
Not too long after that, Murphy joined up with Memphis Slim’s House Rockers. Murphy’s jazzy blues tones are on practically all of Memphis Slim’s sessions for the next decade before Slim moved to Europe. Following that, Murphy became one of the Chess studio stablemates doing sessions with Chuck Berry, Etta James and Otis Rush, among others; and joined the American Folk Blues Festival tours in 1963. Here he is, performing “Murphy’s Boogie” from that tour www.facebook.com/dusttodigital/videos/10156312843125821/
The 1970s found Murphy spending most of the decade supporting James Cotton, where you’ll find his name in the credits of a half-dozen Cotton releases.
While working, his career was somewhat in obscurity, a name not known by many as he was primarily a sideman. It was in 1977 when he was requisitioned by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd to play Aretha Franklin’s husband and join the Blues Brothers, playing the part in both the original Blues Brothers movie and the sequel Blues Brothers 2000.
With that notoriety, Murphy inked a guitar endorsement contract with Cort guitars and finally recorded his debut solo album in 1990 on the Antone’s label with his nephew Floyd on second guitar. Two more albums followed, although they received very little commercial attention, with Murphy suffering a stroke in 2002.
He moved to Florida for a better climate for his health, did return to performing and, at age 80, got married in 2011. That year also saw Murphy’s final release, although it was actually a live club date from 1986.
Murphy was inducted into the Memphis Blues Hall of Fame in 2012. He passed away in 2018 after suffering a heart attack.
Discography
1978 Memphis Slim and His House Rockers featuring Matt “Guitar” Murphy – U.S.A. (Peral PL-10)
1982 The James Cotton Band featuring Matt “Guitar” Murphy – Live at Electric Lady (Buddah/Sequel NEX CD224)
Recorded for radio broadcast at Electric Lady Studios in New York in late 1975 or early 1976.
1986 Memphis Slim and Matt Murphy – Together Again One More Time (Antone’s ANT 0003)
1990 Way Down South (Antone’s ANT 0013)
1996 Matt “Guitar” Murphy – The Blues Don’t Bother Me (Roesch RR0037)
2000 Matt “Guitar” Murphy – Lucky Charm (Roesch RR 0038)
2011 Matt “Guitar” Murphy – Last Call (Bluzpik Rekerdz 2011)