Turk Murphy
Encyclopedia
Melvin Edward Alton “Turk” Murphy (born Palermo, California
, December 16, 1915; died of bone cancer in San Francisco, California, May 30, 1987) was renowned as a trombonist who played traditional and dixieland
jazz
in San Francisco.
Murphy served in the Navy during World War II
, during which time he played and recorded when he could, with the likes of Lu Watters
and Bunk Johnson
. In 1952, he headed his own band, "Turk Murphy's Jazz Band," which included pianist Wally Rose
, clarinetist Bob Helm
, banjo player Dick Lammi
, and tubaist Bob Short. They played at the Italian Village at Columbus and Lombard, in San Francisco’s North Beach. The band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
twice, in 1959 and 1965. In 1979, horn man Bob Schulz
began an eight-year stint with the band. Other notable band members over the years included trumpeters Don Kinch, Bob Short, and Leon Oakley; pianists Pete Clute and Ray Skjelbred; and singer Pat Yankee.
Murphy was the singer for the 1971 Sesame Street
cartoon shorts, "The Alligator King" and "#9 Martian Beauty" animated and produced by his long time friend animator Bud Luckey
. Murphy also arranged and performed on many of Bud Luckey
's other Sesame Street
animated Shorts. In addition to Luckey, Murphy was a long time friend of fellow trombonist and Disney animator Ward Kimball
who created many memorable caricatures of Murphy and Charles Addams
creator of The Addams Family
.
Among other venues, Murphy's band played his nightclub "Earthquake McGoons," which opened in 1960 and moved three times, from 99 Broadway to 630 Clay in 1964, the Embarcadero in 1979 and Pier 39
in 1983, before closing in 1984.
In January 1987, Murphy played Carnegie Hall
. He died on May 30, 1987, leaving behind his wife Harriet and their son Carson. He is buried at Cypress Lane Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, CA.
Together with Lu Watters and Bob Scobey, Murphy dominated the revivalism in the San Francisco area. His band recorded and released dozens of albums.
Palermo, California
Palermo is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 5,382 at the 2010 census, down from 5,720 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, December 16, 1915; died of bone cancer in San Francisco, California, May 30, 1987) was renowned as a trombonist who played traditional and dixieland
Dixieland Jazz
Dixieland Jazz was a Canadian music television series which aired on CBC Television in 1954.-Premise:The series host was Trump Davidson, a cornet player. He also hosted a radio music series on CBC's Trans-Canada Network.-Scheduling:...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
in San Francisco.
Murphy served in the Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which time he played and recorded when he could, with the likes of Lu Watters
Lu Watters
Lucius "Lu" Watters was a trumpeter and bandleader of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band in the "West Coast revival" of Dixieland music...
and Bunk Johnson
Bunk Johnson
Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson was a prominent early New Orleans jazz trumpet player in the early years of the 20th century who enjoyed a revived career in the 1940s....
. In 1952, he headed his own band, "Turk Murphy's Jazz Band," which included pianist Wally Rose
Wally Rose
Wally Rose was an American jazz and ragtime pianist.Rose was a mainstay of the jazz scene in San Francisco during the 1940s and 1950s. He was the pianist for Lu Watters's group, the Yerba Buena Jazz Band, for its entire existence, from 1939 to 1950...
, clarinetist Bob Helm
Bob Helm
Bob Helm was a jazz clarinetist who is known for playing with Lu Watters and Turk Murphy. Helm is noted for being a member of the Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band in the 1940's. He is most associated with Dixieland music. He led at least one band, which was Bob Helm's Riverside Roustabouts...
, banjo player Dick Lammi
Dick Lammi
Dick Lammi was an American jazz tubist and bassist associated with Dixieland jazz.Lammi played violin and banjo early in his career, and played as a banjoist in various groups in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1920s...
, and tubaist Bob Short. They played at the Italian Village at Columbus and Lombard, in San Francisco’s North Beach. The band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
twice, in 1959 and 1965. In 1979, horn man Bob Schulz
Bob Schulz
Robert Louis Schulz, the Founder and Chairman of We the People Foundation for Constitutional Education and We the People Congress, is a constitutional activist with a decades-long focus on holding government accountable to the Constitution, through the First Amendment Right to Petition.An engineer...
began an eight-year stint with the band. Other notable band members over the years included trumpeters Don Kinch, Bob Short, and Leon Oakley; pianists Pete Clute and Ray Skjelbred; and singer Pat Yankee.
Murphy was the singer for the 1971 Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
cartoon shorts, "The Alligator King" and "#9 Martian Beauty" animated and produced by his long time friend animator Bud Luckey
Bud Luckey
William "Bud" Luckey is an American cartoonist, animator, singer, musician, composer and voice actor. He is best known for his work at Pixar as a character designer for Toy Story, Boundin, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille...
. Murphy also arranged and performed on many of Bud Luckey
Bud Luckey
William "Bud" Luckey is an American cartoonist, animator, singer, musician, composer and voice actor. He is best known for his work at Pixar as a character designer for Toy Story, Boundin, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille...
's other Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
animated Shorts. In addition to Luckey, Murphy was a long time friend of fellow trombonist and Disney animator Ward Kimball
Ward Kimball
Ward Walrath Kimball was an animator for the Walt Disney Studios. He was one of Walt Disney's team of animators known as Disney's Nine Old Men.-Career:...
who created many memorable caricatures of Murphy and Charles Addams
Charles Addams
Charles "Chas" Samuel Addams was an American cartoonist known for his particularly black humor and macabre characters...
creator of The Addams Family
The Addams Family
The Addams Family is a group of fictional characters created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. As named by Charles Addams, the Addams Family characters include Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing....
.
Among other venues, Murphy's band played his nightclub "Earthquake McGoons," which opened in 1960 and moved three times, from 99 Broadway to 630 Clay in 1964, the Embarcadero in 1979 and Pier 39
Pier 39
Pier 39 is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco, California. At Pier 39, there are shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, an interpretive center for the Marine Mammal Center, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides, and views of...
in 1983, before closing in 1984.
In January 1987, Murphy played Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. He died on May 30, 1987, leaving behind his wife Harriet and their son Carson. He is buried at Cypress Lane Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, CA.
Together with Lu Watters and Bob Scobey, Murphy dominated the revivalism in the San Francisco area. His band recorded and released dozens of albums.