Allen Murphy

Allen Murphy was born December 17, 1942 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and was raised there and in Cleveland and Oberlin, Ohio. He began his professional career in Oberlin  playing trumpet with Stanley Cowell.

Moving to NYC in 1963, Murphy studied Classical composition with composer Bernice Schlemowitz and joined the Harlem Youth Unlimited (HarYouAct) Big Band playing bass violin under the direction of Jackie McLean and Kenny Dorham. Other members of the band were Nelson Santiago, Rick Porter and Renee McLean. Murphy also worked with Ray Draper, Jimmy Owens, George Coleman and others before moving to Rochester, NY where he worked in Chuck Mangione’s band (at Ron Carter’s recommendation) and with Joe Romano and other Upstate musicians.  While there Murphy studied bass with the principal bassist of the Rochester Philharmonic, Robert Zimmerman and taught music at the Hochstein School.

After two years with Mangione’s band, Murphy moved to Boston where he worked in a band with Dave Samuels, John Scofield, Mike Cochrane, Ed Fiorenze and Mike Stout. He also worked as bassist in Mose Allison’s trio and with George Braithe.

Murphy moved to the Hudson Valley in the mid 1970’s, where he still resides. He spent several years playing and recording as bassist in Second Sight with Dave Douglas, John Esposito, Jeff Marx, and Jeff Siegel. He also worked with Roswell Rudd, Bobby Johnson, Jr., Arthur Rhames, Hugh Brody, Marvin Bugalu Smith, Eddie Diehl and Steve Geraci.

He revisited Johnstown, Pennsylvania and spent three years playing bass with a church choir and studying African American church music with choirmaster Devon Hasselrig.

Murphy also worked at resort hotels in the Catskills and Atlantic City, playing with Diane Carroll, Della Reese, Eddie Fisher, Billy Eckstine and Cab Calloway. He toured with the Buddy Rich Big Band and the Lou Donaldson Quartet.