Artist description Singer/songwriter, guitarist/vocalist with piano, bass and percussion. Simplicity with a hook, set on a strong songwriting foundation. Meaningful words, indelible melodies, content-rich songs.

Music Style Singer/Songwriter (acoustic guitar, piano, vocals with harmonies)

Musical Influences James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Rush, Nirvana, Leo Kottke, Leadbelly, Boston, Neil Young, Yanni, Cream, Paul Simon, John Denver

Similar Artists James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Leo Kottke, Kurt Cobain, Neil Young, John Denver, John Prine, Richard Gilewitz, Beck

Artist History Patrick's been a musician all his life and performs in coffeehouses and similar venues.

Group Members Patrick Murphy and various supporting musicians including Chris Sievers, Curt Duncan, and Eric Loy

Instruments guitar, piano, percussion, bass

Albums Patrick Murphy

Press Reviews "Patrick is of the acoustic singer-songwriter variety. The songs and the vocal styling remind me a bit of Cat Stevens. The lyrics are wonderful and the over all songs put me in a state of calm. Patrick is accompanied by the traditional band set up, which helps to elevate the tunes to another level. A terrific acoustic release." (Mite: Mutant-Renegade, Issue #14, 2000) "Honey-smooth vocal delivery...Murphy has managed to develop an introspective style of folk-pop that showcases his nimble guitar work and strong lyrics." (Dayton Impact Weekly, vol. 7, no. 51. December 23 - 29, 1999.) "Like Leo Kottke and Richard Gilewitz, the WSU graduate student uses a fluid, finger-picking style of playing." (Dayton Impact Weekly, v.7, no. 17. April 29 - May 5, 1999.) 'GOOD SONGWRITING TRANSCENDS GENRES' (By Sara Farr, Dayton Daily News, Saturday, December 25, 1999) Kurt Cobain and James Taylor might not seem to have a lot in common until you meet Patrick Murphy. Murphy, a Fairborn-based singer/songwriter, cites the lyricism and technique of Taylor and the passionate intensity of Cobain as things that have influenced his own style of playing. "I lived in Seattle during the grunge period, with Kurt Cobain and Nirvana," Murphy says. "It wasn't so much about the music or getting the songs perfect as it was about playing from the heart with honesty and sincerity. It was his passion that drew me to it. "I would consider what I play to be folk-rock. People may listen to heavy metal or Patsy Cline, but it's what is behind the words and the style that draws them in." One of Murphy's greatest influences is Taylor, who has long been recognized as a godfather of the singer-songwriter genre. Taylor's easy, storytelling style has left an indelible stamp across the sound of Murphy's self-titled first CD. The disk, recorded at Mike Sievers’ The Main Sound studio in Brookville, has a very Midwestern plains feel about it, drawing from the richness of places Murphy has called home, such as Nebraska and Iowa. "It's white bread, white-boy American," Murphy says. "Most of the songs have that sound with the exception of the Spanish song (Water That We Are), which was based on a trip I took to Miami." The song, one of the strongest on the album, arose from jam sessions he had with a Spanish guitarist. "The guitar playing is different on that one. I got away from the chords and evolved from the James Taylor influence," he says. "I started out on piano at age 5 - not my forte - and switched to guitar in the fifth grade. I started out with an electric, hard rock sound, but the main focus in that type of music is not on the songwriting, which, if you're a musician, can get boring. There's always some kid in a music store, banging away with a pick, but you can do so much more if you really use your fingers. Good songwriting transcends genres." Murphy dips into a mixed bag on his CD, from songs with a traditional verse-chorus-verse feel (What You Do and Hard to Find) to the classical guitar style of Not Me and the old rockabilly sounds of Sunshine of My Mind. Nailing down so many genres might have been tough for some singer-songwriters, but Murphy's curiosity and love for all types of music holds the CD together. "I've gotten really good feedback from people about the CD. I was surprised...but I'm my own worst critic. You always go back and say, 'I could have done that differently, or better.'" Murphy says.

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Location Chicago, Illinois - USA

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