It is with a very heavy heart that I write of the passing of my dear friend, band mate, and brilliant musician Ray Murphy. Ray started on the next leg of his journey Sunday evening last.
I first met Ray at The Porter House in Montvale, NJ one Sunday afternoon in 2002 as I was first finding my way back to the music. My bride and I were at the pub listening to, and enjoying, the session. Ray came up to the bar to get a drink and have a smoke. We started talking and it seemed we knew each other since the beginning of time. He invited me to come by his session the following evening at O'Donohue's Tavern in Nyack, NY. That was the beginning of an all too short but unbelievably fulfilling friendship.
Of all the brilliant musicians I have had the great honor of playing music with since finding my way back Ray certainly was one of the greatest and a brilliant mentor. His patience with me as I beat out terribly incoherent rhythms on the bodhrán was remarkable. It was on his hand that that mine developed, it was his hand that I followed be he playing the mandolin, banjo, or bouzouki. It was his patience and encouragement that allowed me to gain the confidence I needed to pursue this great love of mine, traditional Irish music. It was this very same patience and encouragement that gave me the confidence to again pick up the guitar. It was with his encouragement that I began to sing again.
Ray was a part of Irish music beginning in the 1970's when he, John Dillon, Bill Black, Jerry O'Sullivan, and a young Brian Conway were tearing up the NYC traditional Irish music scene. He was also a brilliant Old Time mandolin player and as one member put it a “cornerstone member” of the mandolin discussion group “Comando”. Ray was the graphic designer for the Comando compilation CD's as well as a contributing musician. The list of Ray's contributions to the music world is seemingly endless. I know his influence on me is for sure.
All music has suffered a great loss in Ray's passing. I am so very grateful that I had the pleasure and honor of knowing him even for the short time that I did. I cherish the memory of all the music and recordings we made together.
Rest in Peace my friend. I miss you. Save me a seat at that great session up there!!!
Ed I am in shock. Was Ray sick? Seems like I just played with him at the start of the summer and he looked fine. If he was sick he didn't let on. Ray was a great player and alway had a word of encouragement to other session mates. If you have the details of the service please pass that on to me via email. Thanks Doug
Yes, Ed.... I really hate to say good bye to Ray, a friend for 30 years. I knew him from those old NYC days, the old sessions around the city, the Eagle tavern, he'd be everywhere you turned.
When I moved to NJ, way out near PA, it became more difficult to come into the sessions, well, the driving back was the really hard part, so my visits were few and far between. Ray was one of the few who would come to my house to play sometimes.
A few years ago I was honored to have Ray accompany me on mandolin, playing TamLin for my guitar CD. It was one of his favorite tunes, and he won some placements in competitions here and in Ireland with that tune, so when I decided to record it, I knew I wanted to play it with Ray. Now this one recording will be a cherished memory for me, of someone I always expected to be around, to show up at a session, exchange a big hug.
He was a really good person, a really good friend, a fixture in my life who I could always count on to be there to talk to or play some tunes with, and this news is just terribly heartbreaking.
I am sure he is now playing with the best of them on another plane. He was an incredible musician, and will be missed by everyone who knew him.
You're absolutely right Iris, Tam Lin was one of Ray's favorites. I remember the night that he and Frankie McCormick gave us a brilliant rendition, both on banjo, at the Porter House. I can still see the smile on Ray's face as the two of them played off each other making those strings sing. Man, it was brilliant. Ray was walking two feet off the ground that night.
I remember a little concert we put on ages ago in NYC with various sets, Ray and Jerry O'Sullivan did a set, and it was brilliant, We still spoke about that for decades after.
Ray could really play! He had a real passion for the music. Way back when I used to play mandolin, though never on the level Ray could, we were, I believe over at my house, a small house session and looked inside our mandolins, both old Gibson A models, and deicovered they were something like 12 serial numbers apart, and thought that was very odd, like they were probably hanging in the same shop with the finishes drying at the same time in the 19teens or whatever year they were.
I never could look at a mandolin or banjo without thinking of Ray , and it will always be that way.
I'm also in shock, and remember just a few weeks ago I saw him and he was playing the hell out of the mandolin and what a fun time we had. Can't believe it.
I"m glad I had the unique opportunity to play with Ray in Liscune, and I'm so glad to also have most of our time documented with pictures and recordings. They will surely be my most treasured memories of Ray.
Goodbye, Ray...I love you and miss you, and can't wait to see you in that big ole session in the sky.
What a great tribute this thread has made in memory of a friend and musician of such endearing qualities, Those that have contributed to this memorial have restored my faith in the generosity of this community. Phil
I can tell you for sure that our seisun at the Porterhouse won't ever be the same without Ray. We had some wonderful tunes over the years as well as many, many laughs. He was a wonderful musician and a great friend-one you could count on for anything--always offering to help in any way. I'm going to miss him so much. Rest in peace Ray--we all love you!
I still can't believe he is gone. He had a lot of friends in the Old Time music circles too, and I am hearing from some of them as wll. I believe they have a big to-do at Lake Genaro in PA this weekend or soon at least, and Ray was a regular.
Everyone will miss him. He had so many friends. He was a very strong presence both musically and as a person, things just won't be the same.
I read the e-mail this morning from Ed about the memorial session for Ray with shock and sadness. Though I did not know Ray very well personally or for very long, I was very much inspired by his playing and kind and instructional words from the first time I met him at The Porterhouse and had the pleasure of sitting alongside this, what I quickly came to appreciate, wonderful musician who welcomed this newcomer with a friendly smile and kind and encouraging words. I think more than anything I'll remember observing and listening to Ray's playing style and the way he moved with the music as he performed. I think often of his body accenting those downbeats while he did magic with that little mandolin.
As intimidated as I was to walk into the very lightly attended session in Clifton, N.J. at Fitzgerald's Harp and Bard (has it been two years already?), I was quickly welcomed and put at ease by Ray's friendly smile and Hawaiian shirts. I was also impressed by the load of instruments he traveled with and the mastery with which he played them all. I regret not spending more time at sessions with him and having a more friendly connection, since we were just about neighbors up here in Northern N.J. What a great player. What a nice person. What an inspiration towards achievement and a great example of someone who showed passion for his art.
R.I.P. Ray Murphy
R.I.P. Ray Murphy
It is with a very heavy heart that I write of the passing of my dear friend, band mate, and brilliant musician Ray Murphy. Ray started on the next leg of his journey Sunday evening last.
I first met Ray at The Porter House in Montvale, NJ one Sunday afternoon in 2002 as I was first finding my way back to the music. My bride and I were at the pub listening to, and enjoying, the session. Ray came up to the bar to get a drink and have a smoke. We started talking and it seemed we knew each other since the beginning of time. He invited me to come by his session the following evening at O'Donohue's Tavern in Nyack, NY. That was the beginning of an all too short but unbelievably fulfilling friendship.
Of all the brilliant musicians I have had the great honor of playing music with since finding my way back Ray certainly was one of the greatest and a brilliant mentor. His patience with me as I beat out terribly incoherent rhythms on the bodhrán was remarkable. It was on his hand that that mine developed, it was his hand that I followed be he playing the mandolin, banjo, or bouzouki. It was his patience and encouragement that allowed me to gain the confidence I needed to pursue this great love of mine, traditional Irish music. It was this very same patience and encouragement that gave me the confidence to again pick up the guitar. It was with his encouragement that I began to sing again.
Ray was a part of Irish music beginning in the 1970's when he, John Dillon, Bill Black, Jerry O'Sullivan, and a young Brian Conway were tearing up the NYC traditional Irish music scene. He was also a brilliant Old Time mandolin player and as one member put it a “cornerstone member” of the mandolin discussion group “Comando”. Ray was the graphic designer for the Comando compilation CD's as well as a contributing musician. The list of Ray's contributions to the music world is seemingly endless. I know his influence on me is for sure.
All music has suffered a great loss in Ray's passing. I am so very grateful that I had the pleasure and honor of knowing him even for the short time that I did. I cherish the memory of all the music and recordings we made together.
Rest in Peace my friend. I miss you. Save me a seat at that great session up there!!!
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on August 29th 2007 by ejsant
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
Ed I am in shock. Was Ray sick? Seems like I just played with him at the start of the summer and he looked fine. If he was sick he didn't let on. Ray was a great player and alway had a word of encouragement to other session mates. If you have the details of the service please pass that on to me via email. Thanks Doug
# Posted on August 29th 2007 by dbarr15@aol.com
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
Yes, Ed.... I really hate to say good bye to Ray, a friend for 30 years. I knew him from those old NYC days, the old sessions around the city, the Eagle tavern, he'd be everywhere you turned.
When I moved to NJ, way out near PA, it became more difficult to come into the sessions, well, the driving back was the really hard part, so my visits were few and far between. Ray was one of the few who would come to my house to play sometimes.
A few years ago I was honored to have Ray accompany me on mandolin, playing TamLin for my guitar CD. It was one of his favorite tunes, and he won some placements in competitions here and in Ireland with that tune, so when I decided to record it, I knew I wanted to play it with Ray. Now this one recording will be a cherished memory for me, of someone I always expected to be around, to show up at a session, exchange a big hug.
He was a really good person, a really good friend, a fixture in my life who I could always count on to be there to talk to or play some tunes with, and this news is just terribly heartbreaking.
I am sure he is now playing with the best of them on another plane. He was an incredible musician, and will be missed by everyone who knew him.
RIP Ray....
# Posted on August 29th 2007 by irisnevins
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
Ed
i'm in total shock---I can't believe it--I'll call you
Rose
# Posted on August 29th 2007 by fiddlefamily
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
You're absolutely right Iris, Tam Lin was one of Ray's favorites. I remember the night that he and Frankie McCormick gave us a brilliant rendition, both on banjo, at the Porter House. I can still see the smile on Ray's face as the two of them played off each other making those strings sing. Man, it was brilliant. Ray was walking two feet off the ground that night.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on August 29th 2007 by ejsant
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
I remember a little concert we put on ages ago in NYC with various sets, Ray and Jerry O'Sullivan did a set, and it was brilliant, We still spoke about that for decades after.
Ray could really play! He had a real passion for the music. Way back when I used to play mandolin, though never on the level Ray could, we were, I believe over at my house, a small house session and looked inside our mandolins, both old Gibson A models, and deicovered they were something like 12 serial numbers apart, and thought that was very odd, like they were probably hanging in the same shop with the finishes drying at the same time in the 19teens or whatever year they were.
I never could look at a mandolin or banjo without thinking of Ray , and it will always be that way.
# Posted on August 29th 2007 by irisnevins
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
I'm also in shock, and remember just a few weeks ago I saw him and he was playing the hell out of the mandolin and what a fun time we had. Can't believe it.
# Posted on August 29th 2007 by hossboss
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
I"m glad I had the unique opportunity to play with Ray in Liscune, and I'm so glad to also have most of our time documented with pictures and recordings. They will surely be my most treasured memories of Ray.
Goodbye, Ray...I love you and miss you, and can't wait to see you in that big ole session in the sky.
# Posted on August 30th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
What a great tribute this thread has made in memory of a friend and musician of such endearing qualities, Those that have contributed to this memorial have restored my faith in the generosity of this community. Phil
# Posted on August 30th 2007 by windybaer
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
I can tell you for sure that our seisun at the Porterhouse won't ever be the same without Ray. We had some wonderful tunes over the years as well as many, many laughs. He was a wonderful musician and a great friend-one you could count on for anything--always offering to help in any way. I'm going to miss him so much. Rest in peace Ray--we all love you!
# Posted on August 30th 2007 by fiddlefamily
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
I still can't believe he is gone. He had a lot of friends in the Old Time music circles too, and I am hearing from some of them as wll. I believe they have a big to-do at Lake Genaro in PA this weekend or soon at least, and Ray was a regular.
Everyone will miss him. He had so many friends. He was a very strong presence both musically and as a person, things just won't be the same.
# Posted on August 30th 2007 by irisnevins
Re: R.I.P. Ray Murphy
I read the e-mail this morning from Ed about the memorial session for Ray with shock and sadness. Though I did not know Ray very well personally or for very long, I was very much inspired by his playing and kind and instructional words from the first time I met him at The Porterhouse and had the pleasure of sitting alongside this, what I quickly came to appreciate, wonderful musician who welcomed this newcomer with a friendly smile and kind and encouraging words. I think more than anything I'll remember observing and listening to Ray's playing style and the way he moved with the music as he performed. I think often of his body accenting those downbeats while he did magic with that little mandolin.
As intimidated as I was to walk into the very lightly attended session in Clifton, N.J. at Fitzgerald's Harp and Bard (has it been two years already?), I was quickly welcomed and put at ease by Ray's friendly smile and Hawaiian shirts. I was also impressed by the load of instruments he traveled with and the mastery with which he played them all. I regret not spending more time at sessions with him and having a more friendly connection, since we were just about neighbors up here in Northern N.J. What a great player. What a nice person. What an inspiration towards achievement and a great example of someone who showed passion for his art.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by pawprintbooks