Dan Aykroyd Posts Heartfelt Tribute After Death of Blues Brothers Guitarist Matt Murphy
When most people consider The Blues Brothers, I bet they remember Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi in their dark suits, hats, and shades. There was something more than a little striking about their frantic antics both in film and on the stage.
But most of us forget that Aykroyd and Belushi weren’t the sum and substance of The Blues Brothers. Sure, they served as its public face, but renowned musicians rounded out its lineup.
One of those musicians was Matt “Guitar” Murphy, a blues veteran whose accomplishments stretched back to the 1940s. He passed away on June 15 at the age of 88.
Though Murphy didn’t establish himself as a household name, he was famous on the blues scene as a stellar sideman. He had worked with luminaries such as Etta James, Willie Dixon, Ike Turner, and James Cotton.
His reputation as a hardworking musician’s musician flowered into fame in the late ’70s. Aykroyd and Belushi saw him play a New York club and later hired him to play a gig with The Blue Brothers, which eventually turned into the 1978 live album “Briefcase Full of Blues.”
That was only the beginning of their partnership. He would also appear in the 1980 film “The Blue Brothers” as Aretha Franklin’s husband, an experience far removed from his prior professional life.
“At that time, I was in heaven,” Murphy told The Indianapolis Star in 1999. “I had never done a movie before…
“I didn’t want it to end. We had so much fun doing that thing.”
And though shooting the movie might’ve ended, his involvement with The Blues Brothers didn’t. He continued to play with the band until the early 2000s. He also released four solo albums.
After learning of his death, Dan Aykroyd posted a heartfelt tribute on Twitter.
“Fondly remembering sweet, strong, funny and immensely talented Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy,” Aykroyd wrote. “The Blues Brothers would not have been what they were without Matt’s playing power, stage magnetism and knowledge of music.”
Actor and Spinal Tap member Michael McKean also praised him: “RIP Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy, one of those play-all-night guys that rock ‘n’ roll is made of.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Murphy’s family and friends during this difficult time.
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