Earl James "Joaquin" Murphey (often spelled "Murphy", 30 December 1923 in Hollywood, California – 25 October 1999) was an American lap steel guitarist. Nicknamed "Joaquin" by bandleader Spade Cooley to refer to the San Joaquin Valley, Murphey was the cutting edge lap steel guitarist of his time due to his clean legato playing and "innovative" chordal style. He was discovered by Cooley in 1943 and was a member of Cooley's organization on and off for the next decade. He also worked with Tex Williams and the Western Caravan, a band formed in 1946 by Cooley's former vocalist and a number of his musicians. Murphey also recorded with the western band Andy Parker and the Plainsmen. Music historian Andy Volk described Murphey as "a jazz musician disguised as a cowboy".[1]: 102 

He had a long-lasting friendship with inventor and guitar hardware manufacturer Paul Bigsby, who custom-built at least three lap-steels for him (a standard, a double neck and even a three neck model).

Murphey also recorded with various West Coast western swing and honky-tonk acts (Jimmie Widener, Johnny Bond, Smokey Rogers and many more) but seldom recorded on his behalf.

In 1980, he was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame[2]

His contemporaries included Herb Remington, Leon McAuliffe, Noel Boggs and Speedy West.

Many illustrious steel guitarists such as West and Buddy Emmons claimed Murphey as their main influence and mentor. [3][1]: 102 

References

  1. 1 2 Volk, Andy (2003). Lap Steel Guitar. Anaheim, California: Centerstream Publications. ISBN 1-57424-134-6.
  2. ↑ "Steel Guitar Hall of Fame".
  3. ↑ "Steel Guitarist magazine, Issue No.3 September 1970, A History of Western Swing Steel Part II by Ralph Sheets". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ↑ "Bigsby Triple Eight High Steel Electric Guitar made for Joaquin Murphy (1947)". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  • The Story of Paul A. Bigsby: Father of the Modern Electric Solid Body Guitar ISBN 0615243045


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