Dee Murray
Encyclopedia
Dee Murray was an English
bassist
, best known as a member of Elton John
's original rock band.
in 1946. Before joining Elton John as his touring sidemen, Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson
were members of the Spencer Davis Group
in 1968-1970.
In Murray's musician bio in the programme book for 1982's "Jump Up!" tour, Murray recalled when he first took up the bass guitar during his high school years: "Someone put this heavy thing over my shoulder and said, 'Here, you play this!'" Murray quickly established a solid reputation on the instrument. In the Eagle Vision documentary on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," producer Gus Dudgeon lauded Murray's musical ability, and said he hadn't heard a bassist quite as good as him.
Murray and Olsson joined John as his road sidemen in 1970, and first appeared on disc
with John on "Amoreena" from the 1970 album
Tumbleweed Connection
, though they were first featured on the live album
17-11-70
. While they were John's constant touring band mates, his record company only allowed them to play on just one track per studio album. As of "Honky Château" in 1972, however, John exerted some of his skyrocketing popularity at the time, and convinced his record company to allow Murray and Olsson to also become full-time recording members of John's band. Along with fellow new recruit Davey Johnstone on guitars, Murray and Olsson played on John's hit albums, including the milestone album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
, singles and world tours for several years. In 1975, after recording Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
, Murray and Olsson were released from the band because John wanted to achieve a different sound. He said at the time "The band always rattled along. I want it to chug".
Murray and Olsson continued working together, as session musician
s in Los Angeles
. They played on Rick Springfield
's first United States
album, Wait for Night
(1976). In 1977, Murray briefly joined Procol Harum
on a North America
tour promoting their last 1970s album, Something Magic
, although he never recorded with the group. Between 1978 and 1979, Murray worked as part of Alice Cooper
's backing band.
Both Murray and Olsson returned to the UK
in 1981, and toured and played sessions with John for another four years, starting with "21 at 33" in 1980 and "The Fox" in 1981. He and Olsson backed John during his landmark concert in Central Park before more than 400,000 fans on the Great Lawn on Sept. 13, 1980.
Murray later contributed all the bass tracks on "Jump Up!" in 1982, and joined Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone for the "Jump Up!" tour, followed by albums and tours for "Too Low For Zero" (1983) and "Breaking Hearts" (1984). The group then disbanded, reuniting only once more for backing vocals on "Reg Strikes Back" in 1988.
for a number of years, Murray died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
, in Nashville, Tennessee
, after suffering a stroke
in 1992; he was aged 45. According to Murray's obituary on www.procolharum.com, that March, John performed two tribute concerts at the Grand Ole Opry to raise money to support Murray’s family. Olsson, upon again becoming a full-time band member with John in 2004 to record Peachtree Road (Universal), reflected upon the absence of his longtime bandmate: “We will never again create anything as wonderful – as inspirational – without Dee’s presence.”
Bandmate Davey Johnstone
believes Dee's musical skills were not fully appreciated, and in March 2011, said he was working on a documentary about the bass player.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, best known as a member of Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's original rock band.
Biography
Murray was born David Murray Oates in Southgate, LondonSouthgate, London
Southgate is an area of north London, England, primarily within the London Borough of Enfield, although parts of its western fringes lie within the London Borough of Barnet. It is located around north of Charing Cross. The name is derived from being the south gate to Enfield Chase...
in 1946. Before joining Elton John as his touring sidemen, Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson
Nigel Olsson
Nigel Olsson is an English rock drummer, who is best known for his work with Elton John. Olsson helped establish the Elton John sound as one of the first members of John's band, on drums, percussion and backing vocals. When not working with Elton, Olsson has taken up the role of a session musician...
were members of the Spencer Davis Group
Spencer Davis Group
The Spencer Davis Group was a mid-1960s British beat group from Birmingham, England, formed by Spencer Davis with Steve Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood...
in 1968-1970.
In Murray's musician bio in the programme book for 1982's "Jump Up!" tour, Murray recalled when he first took up the bass guitar during his high school years: "Someone put this heavy thing over my shoulder and said, 'Here, you play this!'" Murray quickly established a solid reputation on the instrument. In the Eagle Vision documentary on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," producer Gus Dudgeon lauded Murray's musical ability, and said he hadn't heard a bassist quite as good as him.
Murray and Olsson joined John as his road sidemen in 1970, and first appeared on disc
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
with John on "Amoreena" from the 1970 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Tumbleweed Connection
Tumbleweed Connection
Tumbleweed Connection is the third album by English international recording artist Elton John. It is a concept album based on the Country and Western/Americana themes. All songs are written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan. It was recorded at...
, though they were first featured on the live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
17-11-70
17-11-70
17-11-70 is a live album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971. The recording was taken from a live radio broadcast on 17 November 1970, hence the album's title. The US release was renamed 11-17-70 in keeping with the standard US format of listing the month before the day in...
. While they were John's constant touring band mates, his record company only allowed them to play on just one track per studio album. As of "Honky Château" in 1972, however, John exerted some of his skyrocketing popularity at the time, and convinced his record company to allow Murray and Olsson to also become full-time recording members of John's band. Along with fellow new recruit Davey Johnstone on guitars, Murray and Olsson played on John's hit albums, including the milestone album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released in 1973, is the seventh studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John. It has come to be regarded as Elton John's best and most popular album, and is his best selling studio album with worldwide sales of at least 15 million copies.Recorded at the Château...
, singles and world tours for several years. In 1975, after recording Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975. It debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart, the first album ever to do so, and stayed there for seven weeks. It was certified Gold on 5/21/1975 and was...
, Murray and Olsson were released from the band because John wanted to achieve a different sound. He said at the time "The band always rattled along. I want it to chug".
Murray and Olsson continued working together, as session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. They played on Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield is an Australian-born singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a member of pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971 and then started his solo career with his début single "Speak to the Sky" reaching the top 10 in Australia. In mid-1972, he relocated to the United States...
's first United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
album, Wait for Night
Wait for Night
Wait for Night is an album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield. He originally released it through Chelsea Records in 1976. He later re-released it through RCA Records in 1982, and that version managed to crack into the Billboard album charts. A CD version has been available since July...
(1976). In 1977, Murray briefly joined Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
on a North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
tour promoting their last 1970s album, Something Magic
Something Magic
Something Magic, by Procol Harum, was released in 1977.After this album was released, Copping left the band. Dee Murray replaced him for the North American tour promoting this album.- Side one :#"Something Magic" - 3:37...
, although he never recorded with the group. Between 1978 and 1979, Murray worked as part of Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
's backing band.
Both Murray and Olsson returned to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1981, and toured and played sessions with John for another four years, starting with "21 at 33" in 1980 and "The Fox" in 1981. He and Olsson backed John during his landmark concert in Central Park before more than 400,000 fans on the Great Lawn on Sept. 13, 1980.
Murray later contributed all the bass tracks on "Jump Up!" in 1982, and joined Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone for the "Jump Up!" tour, followed by albums and tours for "Too Low For Zero" (1983) and "Breaking Hearts" (1984). The group then disbanded, reuniting only once more for backing vocals on "Reg Strikes Back" in 1988.
Death
After battling skin cancerSkin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
for a number of years, Murray died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a collection of several hospitals and clinics, as well as the schools of medicine and nursing associated with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.It comprises the following units:...
, in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1992; he was aged 45. According to Murray's obituary on www.procolharum.com, that March, John performed two tribute concerts at the Grand Ole Opry to raise money to support Murray’s family. Olsson, upon again becoming a full-time band member with John in 2004 to record Peachtree Road (Universal), reflected upon the absence of his longtime bandmate: “We will never again create anything as wonderful – as inspirational – without Dee’s presence.”
Bandmate Davey Johnstone
Davey Johnstone
Davey Johnstone , is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John.-Career:...
believes Dee's musical skills were not fully appreciated, and in March 2011, said he was working on a documentary about the bass player.