Matt 'Guitar' Murphy R.I.P.
1929-2018

Sad news from the rock and roll coalface this week as I learnt of the death of the legendary blues guitarist Matt 'Guitar' Murphy, who was most known for his lovely performance playing himself in the 1980 musical action comedy 'The Blues Brothers'. I spent many a chilled evening in the early 80's watching that aforementioned movie with my brother and marvelling, not only at the crazy stunts, but also at the glorious music contained within. It was my entry level into the wonderful world of the original rhythm and blues scene and Murphy's playing, as part of the Blues Brothers Band, was a real highlight. And his scenes with Aretha Franklin, who played his long-suffering wife, were an absolute joy.
Matt: "Don't get riled sugar."
Mrs. Murphy: "Don't you 'Don't get riled, sugar' me! You ain't going back on the road no more, and you ain't playing them ol' two-bit sleazy dives. You're livin' with me now, and you ain't gonna go slidin' around witcho ol' white hoodlum friends."
Matt: "But babes, this is Jake and Elwood - The Blues Brothers!"
Mrs. Murphy: "The Blues Brothers? Sheeet, they still owe you money, fool."

Born in Mississippi, Murphy learnt to play the guitar as a child before moving to Chicago in his late teens. There, he hooked up with Howlin' Wolf and Little Junior Parker and recorded a number of tracks with both. Although his guitar playing was exemplary, good enough even for the legendary Freddie King to copy Murphy's style on the classic 'Hideaway', his lack of vocal ability meant that he increasingly found himself filling his days as a glorified session guitarist. However, it was whilst playing with harmonica virtuoso James Cotton in the 70's that fortune smiled on Murphy. Saturday Night Live comedic superstars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were in the audience one night and chose Murphy to be their guitarist in their new project - a touring RnB revue, featuring stellar talents like Steve Cropper, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Alan Rubin, that eventually snowballed into a movie and countless albums. After Belushi's death in 1982, The Blues Brothers Band decided to continue on as a going concern, employing a revolving door of vocalists including Eddie Floyd, Sam Moore and even the Italian singer Zucchero.
In 1988 the band toured the UK and it was here in London - at The Town & Country Club in Kentish Town (now known as The Forum) - that I was lucky enough to meet the man in question. As part of that year's London Blues Festival, the BB Band put on a fantastic show that I attended with my stepdad. Due to a long-standing connection with one of the road crew, my stepdad was able to get us backstage before the gig where beers were consumed, photos were taken and nervy exclamations along the lines of  "You were great in the film" and "What was Belushi like to work with?" were thrown at various members of the group by my callow 18 year old self. Steve Cropper was generous enough to give me one of his guitar picks - emblazoned, but of course, with the legend 'Pick Of The Crop' - and all the way through this pre-gig meet and greet, Matt Murphy was an absolute gent. Sweet, self-effacing and more than happy to answer any questions that came his way. I even got a photo of the great man stringing his guitar in preparation for the show. The gig itself was superb and Murphy was on tremendous form, sharing lead guitar duties with Cropper and raising the roof with his signature solo on the evergreen 'Sweet Home Chicago'. The whole experience is well up there in my list of 'Best Ever Gig Moments' and, along with the fact that I'm still watching The Blues Brothers movie well into my fifth decade, means that Matt Murphy will always be one of my personal heroes. 
Rest in peace dude.