From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Dec 29, 2002  7:24 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Matt "Guitar" Murphy

MATT "GUITAR" MURPHY (By Phil Davies)

Born Matt Murphy, 27 December 1929, Sunflower Mississippi

Matt is probably best-known in the mainstream for playing behind the Blues
Brothers (and appearing prominently in their 1980 hit movie). Matt "Guitar"
Murphy deserves enshrinement in the blues-guitar hall of fame anyway. His
jazz-tinged, stunningly advanced riffing behind Memphis Slim elevated the
towering pianist's 1950s output for United and Vee-Jay Records to new
heights.
Guitar playing ran in the Murphy household (which moved from Mississippi
to Memphis when Matt was a toddler). Matt and later his brother Floyd both
made a name for themselves on the early-'50s Memphis scene (that's Floyd
on Little Junior Parker & the Blue Flames' 1953 Sun waxings of "Feelin' Good"
and "Mystery Train").
Matt played with Howlin' Wolf as early as 1948 (harpist Little Junior Parker
was also in the band at the time). He played with Tuff Green's band in
Memphis and added hot licks to early sides by Parker and Bobby Bland for
Modern before latching on with Memphis Slim's House Rockers in 1952.
Normally, the veteran pianist eschewed guitarists altogether, but Murphy's
talent was so prodigious that he made an exception. Murphy's consistently
exciting guitar work graced Slim's United waxings from 1952-54 and his
1958-59 platters for Vee-Jay.
Another solid Memphis Slim LP for Strand in 1961 and dates with Chuck Berry,
Otis Rush, Sonny Boy Williamson 2nd, Etta James and the Vibrations at Chess
preceded Murphy's memorable appearance on the 1963 American Folk Blues
Festival tour of Europe. He appeared alongside Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson
2nd, Muddy Waters, Lonnie Johnson, Big Joe Williams, Victoria Spivey and
Willie Dixon.On that pioneering tour (promoted by Lippmann and Rau), Murphy
commanded the spotlight with a thrilling "Matt's Guitar Boogie" that showcased
his ultra-clean rapid-fire picking.
Harpist James Cotton was the sweaty beneficiary of Murphy's prowess during
much of the 1970s. Murphy's crisp picking matched Cotton's high-energy
blowing on the harpist's 1974 Buddah album 100% Cotton (the guitarist penned
a non-stop "Boogie Thing" for the set).
From there, it was on to aiding and abetting John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's
antic mugging, both on stage and in The Blues Brothers flick (where he played
Aretha Franklin's guitarist hubby, convinced to come out of retirement by the
boys in black).
Murphy has toured as a bandleader in recent years, having recorded an
album of his own in 1990, Way Down South for Antone's (with brother Floyd
on rhythm guitar). His repertoire encompasses blues, funk, jazz, R&B, and
even a few of those Blues Brothers chestnuts (he usually carries someone
in the entourage to sing 'em, Belushi style). Murphy's latest disc, The Blues
Don't Bother Me!, recently emerged on Roesch Records.
He reunited with Slim for a great live album Together One More Time for
Antone's records in 1985, and cut a live album with James Cotton in 1987.

Recommended listening:
Memphis Slim Vee Jay recordings - esp
Rockin' The Blues lp Charly (was this ever on cd??)
Chuck Berry 1960 sessions inc Bye Bye Johnny, Down The Road Apiece, Jaguar &
Thunderbird etc

interesting interview with Matt at -
http://www.tomguerra.com/matt-murphy.html