Juggy Murray
Encyclopedia
Henry 'Juggy' Murray Jr. (born 24 November 1923, Charleston, South Carolina
, died 8 February 2005, New York City
) was an influential rhythm and blues
music producer.
Raised in Hell's Kitchen
in Manhattan
, Murray and partner Bobby Robinson
co-founded Sue Records
in early 1957. In 1958, Murray formed the Symbol Records subsidiary.
Biographer Mick Patrick writes:
In 1968 Murray sold his Sue masters and publishing houses, Saturn and Sagittarius, to United Artists
. He moved to California and by 1972, he issued his first solo LP, 'Built for Speed'. 'Inside America' followed four years later in 1976, which was popular on the UK dancefloors. He released 'Rhythm and Blues' for the Jupiter imprint in 1977.
Murray continued to work into the new millennium, producing and promoting up and coming artists. Of Baby Washington, Juggy Murray once said, "I would rather record her than eat."
Juggy Murray died February 8 2005 in Montifiore Hospital in Bronx, NY. Though Murray was 81 and suffering from Parkinson's Disease
, he and Washington had been working on recording comeback materials.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, died 8 February 2005, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) was an influential rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
music producer.
Raised in Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City between 34th Street and 59th Street, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River....
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, Murray and partner Bobby Robinson
Bobby Robinson
Bobby Robinson was an American Negro League baseball player. He was known as the "Human Vacuum Cleaner" because of his fielding ability at third base....
co-founded Sue Records
Sue Records
Sue Records was founded in 1957 by Henry 'Juggy' Murray in New York City.Also within the group was Symbol Records and Sue also financed and distributed A.F.O.Records owned by Harold Battiste in New Orleans....
in early 1957. In 1958, Murray formed the Symbol Records subsidiary.
Biographer Mick Patrick writes:
The label scored its first regional hit with the Matadors' 'Vengeance' late in 1957, followed by Bobby Hendricks
Bobby HendricksBobby Hendricks is an American R&B singer who charted two hits in the late 1950s. However, before embarking on a solo career, Bobby Hendricks was a member of The Swallows and recorded with The Flyers before becoming a successful solo act...
' national Top 40 hit 'Itchy Twitchy Feeling', with backing from the Coasters. Recordings by the Ray BryantRay BryantRaphael Homer "Ray" Bryant was an American Jazz pianist and composer.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ray Bryant began playing the piano at the age of six, also performing on bass in junior High School...
Combo, Ernestine AndersonErnestine AndersonErnestine Anderson is an American jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning more than five decades, she has recorded over 30 albums. She was nominated four times for a Grammy Award. She has sung at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival , as well as at jazz festivals all...
and Jimmy McGriffJimmy McGriffJames Harrell McGriff was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who developed a distinctive style of playing the Hammond B-3 organ.-Early years and influences:...
established Sue as a jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
hotbed, but the company's most important releases were in an R&B vein. 1958 marked the release of an early Don CovayDon CovayDon Covay is an American R&B/rock and roll/soul music singer and songwriter most active in the 1950s and 1960s, who received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994...
single, 'Believe It Or Not', and in 1960, Sue launched the collaboration of Ike & Tina TurnerIke & Tina TurnerIke & Tina Turner were an American rock & roll and soul duo, made of the husband-and-wife team of Ike Turner and Tina Turner in the 1960s and 1970s. Spanning sixteen years together as a recording group, the duo's repertoire included rock & roll, soul, blues and funk...
with 'A Fool In LoveA Fool in Love" A Fool in Love" is a soul single released as the debuting single for Ike & Tina Turner, released in 1960 on the Sue Records label.-Production history:...
'. Ike & Tina issued a series of national hits under Murray's hand, among them 'I Idolize You', 'It's Gonna Work Out Fine', 'Poor Fool', 'Tra La La La La' and 'You Shoulda Treated Me Right'. Extending his policy of wearing many hats, Murray even managed the Turners for a period. Other Sue hitmakers included Baby WashingtonJustine WashingtonJustine "Baby" Washington is an American soul music vocalist.-Life and career:Washington was raised in Harlem, New York. In 1956, she joined the vocal group The Hearts, then became s a solo artist the following year. Washington had 16 rhythm and blues chart entries in 15 years, most of them during...
with 'Handful Of Memories', 'That's How Heartaches Are Made', 'Leave Me Alone', 'Only Those In Love' and others, and the Soul Sisters, who scored with 'I Can't Stand It', 'Good Time Tonight' and 'Just A Moment Ago'. Drifters front man Johnny MooreJohnny MooreJohnny Moore may refer to:*Johnny Moore , basketball player*Johnny Moore , American baseball player*Johnny Moore , American soul singer and songwriter, played with The Drifters...
also recorded for the company as a solo artist.
In 1968 Murray sold his Sue masters and publishing houses, Saturn and Sagittarius, to United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
. He moved to California and by 1972, he issued his first solo LP, 'Built for Speed'. 'Inside America' followed four years later in 1976, which was popular on the UK dancefloors. He released 'Rhythm and Blues' for the Jupiter imprint in 1977.
Murray continued to work into the new millennium, producing and promoting up and coming artists. Of Baby Washington, Juggy Murray once said, "I would rather record her than eat."
Juggy Murray died February 8 2005 in Montifiore Hospital in Bronx, NY. Though Murray was 81 and suffering from Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
, he and Washington had been working on recording comeback materials.
External links
- Juggy Murray tribute via soulwalking.co.uk
- Juggy Murray biography via spectropop.com