MATT GUITAR MURPHY

Biography

Matthew Tyler Murphy, known as Matt 'Guitar' Murphy, was born on December 29, 1929, in Sunflower, Mississippi, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he learned guitar as a child and immersed himself in the local blues scene alongside his brother Floyd. By 1948, he moved to Chicago, joining Howlin' Wolf's band featuring Little Junior Parker, and soon recorded with Parker and Ike Turner on tracks like 'You're My Angel' / 'Bad Women, Bad Whiskey.' His career flourished in the 1950s with extensive work alongside Memphis Slim on albums such as At the Gate of Horn (1959), where his jazz-tinged, rapid-fire picking elevated the music, blending blues with sophisticated riffing.[1][2][4]

Murphy's versatility shone through collaborations with Chuck Berry, Koko Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon, including standout performances on the 1963 American Folk Blues Festival tour in Europe with 'Matt's Guitar Boogie.' In the 1970s, he recorded over six albums with James Cotton, catching the attention of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, leading to his iconic role as lead guitarist in The Blues Brothers band, appearing in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers and 1998 sequel Blues Brothers 2000 as Aretha Franklin's husband. He continued performing until a stroke in the early 2000s, returning briefly in 2009, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2012.[1][3][4]

Murphy's musical style fused classic blues with jazz influences, known for clean, advanced riffing that influenced peers like Freddie King, whose 'Hide Away' drew from Murphy's playing. A lifelong sideman who occasionally led his own bands, he released solo albums like Way Down South (1990) with brother Floyd for Antone's, cementing his legacy as a blues guitar pioneer until his death on June 15, 2018.[1][4][6]

Fun Facts

• Murphy bridged Memphis jazz and blues scenes in the early 1950s, playing with upscale artists like Phineas Newborn Sr. and blues icons like Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King.[5]
• Memphis Slim, who rarely used guitarists, made an exception for Murphy's prodigious talent, featuring him prominently for nearly a decade.[3][4]
• Dan Aykroyd praised Murphy as essential to The Blues Brothers, stating 'The Blues Brothers would not have been what they were without Matt's playing power, stage magnetism and knowledge of music.'[3]
• Despite fame as a sideman, Murphy released his first solo album Way Down South in 1990 at age 60, joined by brother Floyd.[4][6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Howlin' Wolf - Early band leader who helped launch Murphy's Chicago career (Howlin' Wolf Band with Little Junior Parker) [1948]

Key Collaborators

• Memphis Slim - Long-term guitarist for the pianist's band and recordings (At the Gate of Horn (1959), various United/Vee-Jay sessions) [1952-early 1960s]
• James Cotton - Guitarist in high-energy blues band, over six albums (Multiple albums in the 1970s) [1970s]
• The Blues Brothers - Lead guitarist in touring band and films (The Blues Brothers (1980 film), Blues Brothers 2000 (1998 film)) [1978-early 2000s]
• Chuck Berry - Session guitarist on albums and singles (Various Chess recordings) [1950s-1960s]
• Little Junior Parker - Band member and recording partner with Ike Turner ('You're My Angel' / 'Bad Women, Bad Whiskey' (1952)) [1948-1952]

Artists Influenced

• Freddie King - Based signature riff on Murphy's playing style ('Hide Away' (1960)) [1960]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia