Turk Murphy

Melvin Edward Alton "Turk" Murphy (December 16, 1915 – May 30, 1987) was an American trombonist and bandleader, who played traditional and Dixieland jazz.

Early life He was born on December 16, 1915, in Palermo, California, United States.

Career From 1937, Murphy was a trombonist for Lu Watters and, in 1940, with Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band, formed to play at San Francisco's Dawn Club. Murphy performed with Lu Watters and the Yerba Buena Jazz Band at Hambone Kelly's, a 500-capacity nightclub, the former Sally Rand's Hollywood Club on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito, California.

"Turk formed his own band in 1949. The Tin Angel (1955–1957), and Easy Street (1957–1959)."

In 1952, Turk Murphy's Jazz Band, included pianist Wally Rose, clarinetist Bob Helm, banjoist Dick Lammi, and tubaist Bob Short.

In April 1959, Turk's band was playing at Easy Street, 2215 Powell.

In January 1987, he played Carnegie Hall. Then Murphy and pianist Pete Clute opened their nightclub, at 99 Broadway, the former Mr. Z's and earlier, Sail'N, which opened in 1960, then moved to 630 Clay Street, operated for sixteen years, moving to 128 The Embarcadero then Pier 39, closing in 1984. KJAZ radio broadcast live from Earthquake McGoon's, at Pier 39, sponsored by See's Candies.

Murphy was the singer for the 1971 Sesame Street cartoon shorts, "The Alligator King" and "No. 9 Martian Beauty". They were animated and produced by his friend Bud Luckey. Murphy arranged and performed on many of Luckey's other Sesame Street animated shorts.

Personal life In 1952, while living in a flat on Chestnut Street, Murphy and Grace broke up.

He was friend of trombonist and Disney animator Ward Kimball, who created many memorable caricatures of Murphy, and Charles Addams, creator of the Addams Family.

He died on May 30, 1987.