Matt “Guitar” Murphy was born in Sunflower, Mississippi on December 29, 1929 and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. At age 19 Murphy moved to Chicago where he joined the Howlin’ Wolf Band, which at the time featured Little Junior Parker. 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. He performed with Willie Dixon. Freddie King.

 

Matt worked often with Memphis Slim, including on his debut album At the Gate of Horn (1959). Murphy recorded two albums and many singles with Chuck Berry and was also featured in works by Koko Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Buddy Guy, Etta James, and Otis Rush. He also performed with Willie Dixon. Freddie 

 

King is said to have once admitted that he based his “Hide Away” (1960) on Murphy’s playing.

 

In the 1970’s, Murphy associated with harmonica player James Cotton, recording over six albums. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi attended one of their performances and subsequently asked Murphy to join the touring band of The Blues Brothers. Matt appeared in the films The Blues Brothers (1980) and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), playing the husband of Aretha Franklin. He performed with the Blues Brothers Band until the early 2000s.

 

Murphy was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2012. He died unexpectedly from a heart attack on June 15, 2018, at age 88.

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Producer and drummer Bobby Christina brought together 72 of the finest musicians around, many like Bobby, a friend of Matt, to create a tribute album for Murphy. This historic 23-song double album includes Murphy’s final three studio recordings, a new song written and performed by multi-Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge, and the work of Murphy’s friends Joe Beard and Billy Boy Arnold in the studio together for the first time. Featured artists include Ronnie Earl, Sax Gordon, Jaimoe, Fran Christina & The Original Roomful of Blues, Steve Cropper, Bill Kirchen, Chuck Leavell, Bob Margolin, James Montgomery, Tracy Nelson, Johnny Nicholas, Christine Ohlman, Lee Oskar, Jerry Portnoy, Duke Robillard, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Toni Lynn Washington and many more. The result, “True Blues Brother the Legacy of Matt “Guitar” Murphy.”

 

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Caravan Lineup

 

Bobby Christina – Drums 

Steve Bigalow – Bass/Vocals 

Neal Vitullo – Guitar/Vocals

 

Mr. Nick David – Harp/Vocals 

Johnny Blue Horn – Trumpet/Vocals

 

Klem Klimek – Sax/Vocals (NRBQ) 

Bob Hassen – Baritone Sax 

Bruce Bears - Keyboards