Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Dennis Donovan

(18,770 posts)
Sat Jun 16, 2018, 11:44 AM Jun 2018

Blues Brothers Guitarist Matt 'Guitar' Murphy Dead at 88

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/blues-brothers-guitarist-matt-guitar-murphy-dead-at-88-w521611

Matt "Guitar" Murphy, guitarist for the Blues Brothers and noted sideman for blues legends like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Memphis Slim, died Friday at the age of 88.

Murphy's death was first announced in by his nephew Floyd Murphy Jr, who performed alongside his uncle. "He was a strong man that lived a long long fruitful life that poured his heart out in every guitar solo he took," Floyd Jr. wrote of Matt Murphy in a Facebook post (via Deadline). No cause of death was provided. In 2002, Murphy suffered a stroke that forced the guitarist into semi-retirement.

A veteran of the legendary Chicago blues scene of the Forties and Fifties, Murphy worked alongside artists ranging from Ike Turner (as members of Junior Parker's Blue Flames) and Etta James to blues musicians like James Cotton, Willie Dixon and Sonny Boy Williamson.

Murphy is best remembered as the indispensable guitarist in the 1980 comedy classic The Blues Brothers; in the film, soul food chef Murphy and his waitress wife Aretha Franklin have a disagreement about him reuniting with the Blues Brothers, resulting in Franklin's iconic "Think" performance:



5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Blues Brothers Guitarist Matt 'Guitar' Murphy Dead at 88 (Original Post) Dennis Donovan Jun 2018 OP
Adios and RIP to another blues great..... panader0 Jun 2018 #1
SHIT !!! (Areatha Franklin Gif) I pray to have life this long uponit7771 Jun 2018 #2
From 1963 aikoaiko Jun 2018 #3
Got to see him a a small bottle club in Monroe Maine Soxfan58 Jun 2018 #4
Aw, man. He's been a favorite of mine forever. nolabear Jun 2018 #5

Soxfan58

(3,479 posts)
4. Got to see him a a small bottle club in Monroe Maine
Sat Jun 16, 2018, 12:12 PM
Jun 2018

Great show, got to be right up close to the band. And boy could he play guitar.

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
5. Aw, man. He's been a favorite of mine forever.
Sat Jun 16, 2018, 12:15 PM
Jun 2018

In a way The Blues Brothers limited peoples’ view of him. He kicked ass as a bluesman.

And frankly I thought him kind of hot.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Blues Brothers Guitarist ...