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Willie Murphy

Willie Murphy

Willie Murphy has been played on NTS in shows including All Fruits Ripe w/ Jack Sapsed, featured first on 27 March 2023. Songs played include Red Palace.

Willie Murphy (November 17, 1943 – January 13, 2019) was an American pianist, singer, producer, and songwriter. He is remembered as a singer and pianist for the blues band Willie and the Bees (sometimes known as Willie and the Bumblebees), and for his work with Bonnie Raitt and John Koerner.

Murphy's 1969 collaboration with folk/blues legend "Spider" John Koerner, "Running, Jumping, Standing Still," is still acclaimed as an all-time folk/blues classic. Throughout the 70’s and into the 80’s, Willie and the Bees defined live R&B/soul music. The band was famous for their unique blending of blues, R&B, jazz, funk, reggae and rock into an electric and eclectic sound that still defies categorization to this day.

Throughout the 90’s and into the new millennium Murphy continued to bring his unique brand of soul music to audiences across the globe. In 1990, Murphy was named as one of the three charter members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame along with Bob Dylan and Prince. With a new band, the Angel Headed Hipsters, he continued to sell out performances throughout the United States as well as headlining major festivals in France, Italy and the Netherlands.

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Willie Murphy

Willie Murphy has been played on NTS in shows including All Fruits Ripe w/ Jack Sapsed, featured first on 27 March 2023. Songs played include Red Palace.

Willie Murphy (November 17, 1943 – January 13, 2019) was an American pianist, singer, producer, and songwriter. He is remembered as a singer and pianist for the blues band Willie and the Bees (sometimes known as Willie and the Bumblebees), and for his work with Bonnie Raitt and John Koerner.

Murphy's 1969 collaboration with folk/blues legend "Spider" John Koerner, "Running, Jumping, Standing Still," is still acclaimed as an all-time folk/blues classic. Throughout the 70’s and into the 80’s, Willie and the Bees defined live R&B/soul music. The band was famous for their unique blending of blues, R&B, jazz, funk, reggae and rock into an electric and eclectic sound that still defies categorization to this day.

Throughout the 90’s and into the new millennium Murphy continued to bring his unique brand of soul music to audiences across the globe. In 1990, Murphy was named as one of the three charter members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame along with Bob Dylan and Prince. With a new band, the Angel Headed Hipsters, he continued to sell out performances throughout the United States as well as headlining major festivals in France, Italy and the Netherlands.

Original source Last.fm

Tracks featured on

Most played tracks

Red Palace
"Spider" John Koerner, Willie Murphy
Elektra1969