Big Jim Murphy

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 29 Jan 2002 6:47 pm

I just saw Big Jim Murphy with Asleep At The Wheel. I couldn't believe that he played sax. His sax chops rule! He's a pretty good steel player too! They did "One O'Clock Jump" and tore the house down.

wayne yakes md · Post by **wayne yakes md** » 8 Feb 2002 2:04 pm

Jim "Big Murph" Murphy is no stranger to western swing having played steel for one of the greatest western swing bands of all time, Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys in the mid-1970's!! "Big Murph's" brother Wally Murphy also played 5 years as the steel guitarist for "The Wheel" in the 1980's. Check out Redd Voelkert's "Telewacker" CD and marvel to "Big Murph" being featured on steel and sax!!! I still LOVE what "Big Murph" did with Carl Smith and the Tunesmith's in the late 1960's, his instrumental "Big Murph" and what he did on C6th behind Smith's vocals on "Faded Love" and "Bonapart's Retreat"!!! What a giant of the steel guitar then and today!!

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 8 Feb 2002 2:24 pm

Anybody hear Jim on fiddler Dale Potter's Stoneway recording? That was my first exposure to Jim and I thought "hm, that's the way I wanna play." Its 30 years later and....Oh well......

Bill

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"Gimme a steel guitar, 2 or 3 fiddles and a Texas rhythm section that can swing"..W. Nelson

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 8 Feb 2002 9:04 pm

Wayne, if you are refering to the double album that Carl Smith did in about 1970, Faded Love and Bonaparts Retreat had Curly Chalker on those and others in that same set. Murph also was on some of the songs and his style and tone is a bit different but that was what got me tuned into this great picker and what a sax man his is also.

wayne yakes md · Post by **wayne yakes md** » 11 Feb 2002 9:11 am

Gary,
The record "Big Murph" cut with Carl Smith was in the late 1960's with his instrumental on the album of the same title. And it was him who cut "Faded Love" and "Bonaparte's Retreat" on that same album. On that dbl album re-issue, Curly Chalker is not on all cuts as I remember. Some of my favorite things Curly did with Carl Smith were "Time Changes Everything" and "I Love You Because", both on C6th!!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 11 Feb 2002 5:08 pm

I got to see Jim twice in person. Once with Vasser Clements. Totally awesome.

The second time was when my band was in Nashville in 1982 or 83 for the Seagrams 7 National Battle of the Bands (which we won). He was playing at (I believe) the Rodeway Inn at the time. They allowed our band to set up and play a few songs. Jim is a very nice man and one of true greats of the steel guitar.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 11 Feb 2002 6:17 pm

He played with Paycheck (Take This Job and Shove It) as well. I saw Johnny and the band the live at a club that I was working with the houseband in back in 1980 or 1981 (the memory ain't so good no more!). He was awesome then and is now. Got to see him at Scotty's about four years ago as well, he did an hour of smooth jazz numbers. I hope I get a chance to see him with the Wheel here in the Portland, Oregon area!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 12 Feb 2002 1:33 pm

i saw big murph with vassar a million years ago and he blew my mind.......also loved the whole barnyard boogie lp of vassar's with jim. then met him years later and he was a wonderful guy!

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 12 Feb 2002 2:10 pm

Yea! That reminded me that I saw Jim with Vassar at the Great SE Music Hall in Atlanta some time before I had a driver's license so it must have been 72-73. They said it was his first night with the band. I remember they played the Allman Brothers' Jessica. Jim played a part and a great solo. When they finished the tune Vassar was blown away and announced "how about that, Jim never heard that tune until tonight."

Bill

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"Gimme a steel guitar, 2 or 3 fiddles and a Texas rhythm section that can swing"..W. Nelson

Loren Nelson · Post by **Loren Nelson** » 13 Feb 2002 10:49 pm

Murph also can be heard on the Johnny Paycheck Album "Live at the Lonestar Cafe" He's a phenominal steel player and a great guy. I've had the pleasure of knowing him and hearing him play a lot in Nashville. He knows how to Swing! I'm so happy for him that he's pickin' w/Asleep at the Wheel and lovin' it!

Loren