Brian Murphy (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Brian Murphy was a notable and award-winning broadcaster and music historian. He is particularly noted for his association with Ottawa radio station CHEZ-FM
between 1977 and 1993.
Brian Murphy's career was closely intertwined with that of Ottawa record retailer, music promoter and radio station owner Harvey Glatt
. While still in his teens, Murphy commenced working for Glatt at Glatt's flagship Treble Clef record store on Sparks Street
in Ottawa, ultimately becoming the manager of the store. Murphy later developed a weekend overnight radio show, Free Form Radio, on Ottawa's CKBY-FM station. When Glatt started CHEZ-FM
, in 1977, Murphy joined the station as its first Music Director and ultimately developed three weekly radio shows on which he regularly appeared: The Source, Blues 106 and Jazz 106.
Murphy's position at CHEZ was eliminated in the summer of 1993, amidst a change at the station to a "Classic Rock
" format. Murphy never returned to radio, and went into a period of slow decline from 1993 until his death twelve years later. He supported himself through providing mix tapes to commercial establishments, as well as selling most of his record collection.
In 2000, Murphy was the recipient of the Blues Heart Award from the Ottawa Blues Society
, awarded annually to "an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to fostering appreciation and awareness of blues music".
CHEZ-FM
CHEZ-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts classic rock at 106.1 FM in Ottawa. The station uses the brand name CHEZ 106 .-History:...
between 1977 and 1993.
History
- Brian was a pretty intimidating guy, and could be overwhelming when he talked about music, but music was all he was. At his house, there were albums everywhere. His basement was floor to ceiling records. They were on his stairs and in hallways. I've never seen so many albums in my life.
-
- Steve Colwill, Music Director, CHEZ-FM, 2005
- I always thought TB Sheets was a sort of one-off inspiration of Van Morrison'sVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, but in fact, it's part of a long blues tradition. A wonderful Ottawa-area DJ named Brian Murphy, who used to do a roots show at a local rock station back when we still had such things, once played a whole series of TB-sheets songs, ending in Morrison's. Who knew?
-
- Posting to "The Great Souls of Our Time: Van Morrison", January 29, 2008.
- I remember staying up late at night, listening to CHEZ 106 from Ottawa. Brian Murphy would be on talking in that low, deep, warm voice describing the music in such vivid terms that made me think he was magic, and that the songs were, as he was, larger than life.
-
- Posting to "Your Radio Memories", December 14, 2008.
Brian Murphy's career was closely intertwined with that of Ottawa record retailer, music promoter and radio station owner Harvey Glatt
Harvey Glatt
Harvey Glatt is a notable and award-winning Canadian music promoter, manager, broadcaster, record and instrument retailer, and record label owner.- History :...
. While still in his teens, Murphy commenced working for Glatt at Glatt's flagship Treble Clef record store on Sparks Street
Sparks Street
Sparks Street is a street in downtown Ottawa, Canada that was converted into an outdoor pedestrian street in 1966, making it the earliest such street or mall in North America....
in Ottawa, ultimately becoming the manager of the store. Murphy later developed a weekend overnight radio show, Free Form Radio, on Ottawa's CKBY-FM station. When Glatt started CHEZ-FM
CHEZ-FM
CHEZ-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts classic rock at 106.1 FM in Ottawa. The station uses the brand name CHEZ 106 .-History:...
, in 1977, Murphy joined the station as its first Music Director and ultimately developed three weekly radio shows on which he regularly appeared: The Source, Blues 106 and Jazz 106.
Murphy's position at CHEZ was eliminated in the summer of 1993, amidst a change at the station to a "Classic Rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
" format. Murphy never returned to radio, and went into a period of slow decline from 1993 until his death twelve years later. He supported himself through providing mix tapes to commercial establishments, as well as selling most of his record collection.
In 2000, Murphy was the recipient of the Blues Heart Award from the Ottawa Blues Society
Ottawa Blues Society
The Ottawa Blues Society is an organization of volunteers in Ottawa, Ontario dedicated to fostering the "appreciation, promotion, preservation and enjoyment of the blues in all of its forms"...
, awarded annually to "an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to fostering appreciation and awareness of blues music".