For other persons named Don Murray, see Don Murray

Don Murray

Don Murray may refer to:*Don Murray , jazz musician*Don Murray *Don Murray , Pulitzer Prize winning writer for the Boston Herald*Don Murray , of the group The Turtles...

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Don Murray (November 8, 1945 – March 22, 1996) was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

, best known for his work with The Turtles

The Turtles

The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...

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Murray became popular playing high school dances with the band The Crossfires.

A year later the Crossfires became the Turtles, but the band had troubles playing at most Southern California venues like the Whiskey A Go Go, the Troubadour, etc., because all members of the band were under 21.

Don married his high school sweetheart Kathy Koontz as the band hit the big time, and soon they had a daughter, Jenny.

The band opened for larger "British Invasion

British Invasion

The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...

" bands at first, like Herman's Hermits, Peter & Gordon, etc., before finally getting into "around the country[USA]" touring that summer.

Murray once said of Peter & Gordon, "they thought London was the bloody capital of the world".

While in New York City, the band starred at the Phone Booth and met Bob Dylan, whose song "It Ain't Me, Babe" was their first big hit.

Murray was always cheered loudest by the fans and a few of the members, mainly Kaylen and Volman thought "Don thinks this is still his high school band". At a meeting in their NYC hotel room, Murray quit.

Murray grew up in Inglewood, California

Inglewood, California

Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...

 and started playing drums at the age of 15. He was a founding member of "The Crossfires", which eventually became The Turtles. He left the band in 1967, at least partly because of their heavy touring schedule.

He was admitted to a hospital in January 1996 for ulcer

Peptic ulcer

A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...

surgery, and died three months later from post-operative complications.

External links

• Don Murray memorial at Surfrider.org