Chris Murrell
Encyclopedia
Chris Murrell is an American jazz and gospel singer who has toured as the featured vocalist for the Count Basie Orchestra
and has made appearances with the Roger Humphries Big Band.
"Besides being a wonderful person," Tony Bennett
says of Chris Murrell, "he has his own sound."
Murrell graduated from Wake Forest University
in 1979 with a degree in theater, and is a lifelong resident of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
In May 1986, Frank Foster
was the guest soloist at a concert with the North Carolina School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Chris was invited to be a guest vocal soloist on the same concert, where Foster,
who was shortly to take over as leader of the Count Basie Orchestra
, heard Chris's rendition of "Lush Life"; when the opportunity presented itself, he hired Chris to be the featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra.
Murrell toured worldwide with the Count Basie Orchestra until 2002.
In 2002, Murrell released a solo album, Reprise; in the liner notes, Tony Bennett
called him "one of my favorite singers".
In 2004, Chris's vocals were featured on the CD These Foolish Things by the Joe Aiello Trio.
Count Basie Orchestra
The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
and has made appearances with the Roger Humphries Big Band.
"Besides being a wonderful person," Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
says of Chris Murrell, "he has his own sound."
Biography
Chris Murrell began singing as a young child and continued to study voice and perform through his childhood, singing in church and school functions. As a teenager, he traveled and performed throughout the US with his own seven-piece gospel group, the Christian Disciples.Murrell graduated from Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
in 1979 with a degree in theater, and is a lifelong resident of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
In May 1986, Frank Foster
Frank Foster (musician)
Frank Foster was an American tenor and soprano saxophonist, flautist, arranger, and composer. Foster collaborated frequently with Count Basie and worked as a bandleader from the early 1950s.-Biography:...
was the guest soloist at a concert with the North Carolina School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Chris was invited to be a guest vocal soloist on the same concert, where Foster,
who was shortly to take over as leader of the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
, heard Chris's rendition of "Lush Life"; when the opportunity presented itself, he hired Chris to be the featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra.
Murrell toured worldwide with the Count Basie Orchestra until 2002.
In 2002, Murrell released a solo album, Reprise; in the liner notes, Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
called him "one of my favorite singers".
In 2004, Chris's vocals were featured on the CD These Foolish Things by the Joe Aiello Trio.