On this day, December 30, 1923, lap steel guitarist Joaquin Murphey was born.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Joaquin Murphey

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".

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

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.

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Take Me Back To Tulsa - Tex Williams & Spade Cooley

Hi-Country Media
260 subscribers

101,683 views Sep 6, 2014
Spade Cooley: "Take Me Back To Tulsa"
with Tex Williams and Carolina Cotton

Used by permission, Something Weird Video
Available on DVD on their Soundies collection

Take Me Back To Tulsa - Soundies Volume 5 http://www.somethingweird.com/product... {I'm blocked by my work computer}

This is one comment:

Carl Lafong 5 years ago (edited)

This is probably the first filmed performance of Joaquin Murphey (looking lean at age 20), with a 1944 copyright date when he was still playing the Dickerson steel. Within months of this, he would have Bigsby steel number 1 and use it with Spade in "Rockin' In The Rockies" on "Miss Molly", which is also here on Youtube. Joaquin also did "Ida Red" with this same Dickerson guitar and the same lineup---twin bass guitars. I saw this film at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley about 40 years ago and had not seen it since. We aren't going to see the likes of Joaquino again.

Sat Dec 30, 2023: On this day, December 30, 1923, lap steel guitarist Joaquin Murphey was born.

Fri Dec 30, 2022: On this day, December 30, 1923, lap steel guitarist Joaquin Murphey was born.

Sat Dec 17, 2022: Donnell 'Spade' Cooley was born on this date.

Mon Dec 17, 2018: Today's birthday boy, the "King of Western Swing," Spade Cooley

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Definitely Worth The Watch!

Not my sort of music, but good players.
Found it interesting that they had a full drum kit, which were scandalous at the Grand Ol' Opry in those days.
Also found it interesting that they had 2 bass players. The younger lady & the guy behind the couch both playing stand-up.