Muruga Booker
Encyclopedia
Muruga Booker is an American
drummer, recording artist, and Orthodox priest.
on December 27, 1942 and is of Serbian
decent. His father, Melvin Bookvich, was a shoemaker who played accordion
. He has a wife, Shakti; a son, Aaron; and a daughter, Rani. Booker and his family moved back to the Detroit area from Oakland, California in 2000 and currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
as a pre-teen. He studied drums under Misha Bischoff, a Russian music teacher. He first professionally played drums with "The Low Rocks" in Detroit as Steve Booker. Under that name he also achieved local recognition playing with the "Thunder Rocks" and Ted Lucas and The Spike Drivers
, and was known for his long, driving drum solos. He shared the bill at venues like Detroit's Eastown Theatre and Grande Ballroom with Ted Nugent
(2/23/70), Traffic
(6/5/70 & 6/6/70), Jack Bruce
(2/13/70 & 2/14/70), and others.
At the first Woodstock Festival
, where he played drums with Tim Hardin
, he met Swami Satchidananda
who gave him the name Muruga. In the late 1970s and early 1980s Booker lived in New York
and played with David Peel on "King of Punk" and "Death to Disco" and Peel's Underground Comeback Hit "Junk Rock" (Muruga introduced his "Electric Talking Drum" on this song, production was by Sherwin Winick), then moved back to Detroit in 1980 where he connected with funk
legend George Clinton
and became an official P-Funk All-Star. His band at that time, Muruga and the Soda Jerks, recorded several albums produced by George Clinton.
In mid-1985 he moved to Oakland, California
and formed the band Muruga UFM, which included Big Brother and the Holding Company guitarist James Gurley
. In 1990, after performing with Prem Das
on the classic drum meditation album Journey of the Drum, he joined Merl Saunders
and formed Merl Saunders and the Rainforest Band with Jerry Garcia
.
In 2000 Booker formed the band Muruga and The Global Village Ceremonial Band, which released the CD One Global Village, featuring P-Funk vocalist Belita Woods
and jazz
clarinetist Perry Robinson
. They played at several festivals including the Starwood Festival
, Rhythm Fest 1 with Mickey Hart
, and Rhythm Fest 2 with Airto Moreira
. In 2002 his recording company Musart and the Association for Consciousness Exploration
co-hosted the SpiritDrum Festival, a tribute to Babatunde Olatunji
, also featuring Sikiru Adepoju
, Badal Roy
, Jeff Rosenbaum, Halim El-Dabh
, Perry Robinson
, and Jim Donovan
of Rusted Root
. In 2004, with most of the same musicians as Muruga & GVCB, Muruga formed the band Free Funk (also featuring Trey Lewd, and Louie Kabbabie), which plays mostly in the Detroit area. He also plays with jazz saxophonist Mark Hershberger, and Richard Smith as the Global Jazz Trio and Mark Hershberger's expanded five piece group as the Global Jazz Project. Booker continues to work with George Clinton and play with the P-Funk All Stars whenever they performed in California, and occasionally elsewhere.
on "Changes" in 1964, and on "People World" in 1966. He appeared on the Paul Winter Consort
's "Something in the Wind," and recorded a meditation record with Swami Satchidananda
in 1969. During the 1970s he recorded with Darius Brubeck
, Gunter Hampel
, Al Kooper
, Ursa Major
, and with Weather Report
on their albums "Sweetnighter" in 1973 and "Mysterious Traveler" in 1974. Muruga's band, Muruga and the Soda Jerks, were produced by George Clinton, and he recorded with George Clinton, Funkadelic
, Bootsy Collins
, and the P-Funk
All Stars on the following records:
In mid-1985 his band Muruga UFM recorded "Terroristic Activities" 1990 and "Rock the Planet" 1993. In 1990 he, his wife Shakti, and Prem Das
recorded the long-selling Journey of the Drums, a pioneering drum album. That same year, Booker joined Merl Saunders
and Jerry Garcia
to record the Grammy-nominated album (and subsequent DVD) Blues From the Rainforest, and their live CDs Save the Planet So We'll Have Someplace to Boogy (1992) and "Fiesta Amazonica" (1998). He also joined Babatunde Olatunji
and Sikiru Adepoju
to record the CD Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations 1993, which was later remixed and distributed on Chesky Records
as Circle of Drums in 2005. With his Detroit-based band Free Funk, he recorded the self titled colored vinyl LP titled Free Funk in 2005 which was released by Qbico Records. This band released the album OrthoFunkOlogy in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drummer, recording artist, and Orthodox priest.
Biography
Booker was born Steven Bookvich in Detroit, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on December 27, 1942 and is of Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
decent. His father, Melvin Bookvich, was a shoemaker who played accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
. He has a wife, Shakti; a son, Aaron; and a daughter, Rani. Booker and his family moved back to the Detroit area from Oakland, California in 2000 and currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Musical career
Booker first played the accordion before taking up drumsDrum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
as a pre-teen. He studied drums under Misha Bischoff, a Russian music teacher. He first professionally played drums with "The Low Rocks" in Detroit as Steve Booker. Under that name he also achieved local recognition playing with the "Thunder Rocks" and Ted Lucas and The Spike Drivers
The Spike Drivers
The Spike Drivers was a band from Detroit, Michigan and played from 1965 to 1967.The Spike Drivers began by working in various coffeehouses and clubs in the Detroit, Michigan folk rock music scene. Their music was rooted in folk, blues, and classical music...
, and was known for his long, driving drum solos. He shared the bill at venues like Detroit's Eastown Theatre and Grande Ballroom with Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
(2/23/70), Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
(6/5/70 & 6/6/70), Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
(2/13/70 & 2/14/70), and others.
At the first Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
, where he played drums with Tim Hardin
Tim Hardin
James Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
, he met Swami Satchidananda
Swami Satchidananda
Swami Satchidananda , born as C. K. Ramaswamy Gounder, was an Indian religious teacher, spiritual master and yoga adept, who gained fame and following in the West during his time in New York. He was the author of many philosophical and spiritual books, including a popular illustrative book on Hatha...
who gave him the name Muruga. In the late 1970s and early 1980s Booker lived in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and played with David Peel on "King of Punk" and "Death to Disco" and Peel's Underground Comeback Hit "Junk Rock" (Muruga introduced his "Electric Talking Drum" on this song, production was by Sherwin Winick), then moved back to Detroit in 1980 where he connected with funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
legend George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
and became an official P-Funk All-Star. His band at that time, Muruga and the Soda Jerks, recorded several albums produced by George Clinton.
In mid-1985 he moved to Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and formed the band Muruga UFM, which included Big Brother and the Holding Company guitarist James Gurley
James Gurley
James Gurley was an American musician. He is best known as the guitar player of Big Brother and the Holding Company, a psychedelic/acid rock band from San Francisco which was fronted by singer Janis Joplin from 1966 to 1968.-Early life:James Gurley was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 22, 1939...
. In 1990, after performing with Prem Das
Prem Das
Prem Das is a former associate professor at Antioch College and the California Institute of Integral Studies, a drummer, and was well known in the early New Age movement....
on the classic drum meditation album Journey of the Drum, he joined Merl Saunders
Merl Saunders
Merl Saunders, was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ.-Biography:...
and formed Merl Saunders and the Rainforest Band with Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
.
In 2000 Booker formed the band Muruga and The Global Village Ceremonial Band, which released the CD One Global Village, featuring P-Funk vocalist Belita Woods
Belita Woods
Belita Woods is a former lead singer of late 70's R&B group, Brainstorm. Brainstorm had a disco hit in 1977 called "Lovin' Is Really My Game". Their follow-up album, 1978's Journey To The Light featured a more soul-funk sound, anchored by the album tracks "We're On Our Way Home" and "If You Ever...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz 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...
clarinetist Perry Robinson
Perry Robinson
Perry Morris Robinson is an American jazz clarinetist and composer. He is the son of the noted composer Earl Robinson. -Biography:...
. They played at several festivals including the Starwood Festival
Starwood Festival
The Starwood Festival is a seven-day Neo-Pagan, New Age, multi-cultural and world music festival presented in mid- to late July. Approximately 1,500 people attend including staff, speakers and entertainers. The Starwood Festival is a camping event which holds workshops on a variety of subjects...
, Rhythm Fest 1 with Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
, and Rhythm Fest 2 with Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. Airto is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. He currently resides in Los Angeles.-Biography:...
. In 2002 his recording company Musart and the Association for Consciousness Exploration
Association for Consciousness Exploration
The Association for Consciousness Exploration LLC is an American organization based in Northeastern Ohio which produces events, books, and recorded media in the fields of "magic, mind-sciences, alternative lifestyles, comparative religion/spirituality, entertainment, holistic healing, and related...
co-hosted the SpiritDrum Festival, a tribute to Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist and recording artist.- Biography :Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, a small town near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at...
, also featuring Sikiru Adepoju
Sikiru Adepoju
Sikiru Adepoju is a percussionist and recording artist from Nigeria, primarily in the genres of traditional African music and world music. He plays a variety of instruments and styles.- Background :...
, Badal Roy
Badal Roy
Badal Roy is a tabla player, percussionist, and recording artist known for his work in jazz, world music, and experimental music.-Biography:...
, Jeff Rosenbaum, Halim El-Dabh
Halim El-Dabh
Halim Abdul Messieh El-Dabh is an Egyptian-born American composer, performer, ethnomusicologist, and educator, who has had a career spanning six decades...
, Perry Robinson
Perry Robinson
Perry Morris Robinson is an American jazz clarinetist and composer. He is the son of the noted composer Earl Robinson. -Biography:...
, and Jim Donovan
Jim Donovan (musician)
Jim Donovan is a professional drummer and percussionist, a recording artist, writer, teacher and lecturer. He is best known as the drummer and one of the founding members of the band Rusted Root. He plays both standard drum kit and African hand drums such as the djembe, ashiko and talking drum...
of Rusted Root
Rusted Root
Rusted Root is a band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for their unique fusion of acoustic, rock, world and other styles of music, with a strong percussion section that draws from African, Latin American, Native American, and Indian influences...
. In 2004, with most of the same musicians as Muruga & GVCB, Muruga formed the band Free Funk (also featuring Trey Lewd, and Louie Kabbabie), which plays mostly in the Detroit area. He also plays with jazz saxophonist Mark Hershberger, and Richard Smith as the Global Jazz Trio and Mark Hershberger's expanded five piece group as the Global Jazz Project. Booker continues to work with George Clinton and play with the P-Funk All Stars whenever they performed in California, and occasionally elsewhere.
Recording history highlights
Through the 1960s, as Steve Booker, he recorded with Jim and JeanJim and Jean
Jim and Jean, composed of Jim Glover and Jean Ray were an American folk music duo, who performed and recorded music from the early to the late 1960s....
on "Changes" in 1964, and on "People World" in 1966. He appeared on the Paul Winter Consort
Paul Winter Consort
The Paul Winter Consort is an American musical group, led by soprano saxophonist Paul Winter. Founded in 1967, the group mixes elements of jazz, classical music, world music, and the sounds of animals and nature. They are often classified as new age music or "ecological jazz", and their unique...
's "Something in the Wind," and recorded a meditation record with Swami Satchidananda
Swami Satchidananda
Swami Satchidananda , born as C. K. Ramaswamy Gounder, was an Indian religious teacher, spiritual master and yoga adept, who gained fame and following in the West during his time in New York. He was the author of many philosophical and spiritual books, including a popular illustrative book on Hatha...
in 1969. During the 1970s he recorded with Darius Brubeck
Darius Brubeck
Darius Brubeck , is a jazz keyboardist and educator. He is the son of jazz legend Dave Brubeck. He spent many years in Durban, South Africa as a professor and head of the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at the University of Natal....
, Gunter Hampel
Gunter Hampel
Gunter Hampel is a German jazz vibraphonist, clarinettist, saxophonist, flautist, pianist and composer born in Göttingen, Germany, perhaps best-known for his album "The 8th of July 1969" that included fellow musicians Anthony Braxton, Willem Breuker and Jeanne Lee...
, Al Kooper
Al Kooper
Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...
, Ursa Major
Ursa Major
Ursa Major , also known as the Great Bear, is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. It can best be seen in April...
, and with Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
on their albums "Sweetnighter" in 1973 and "Mysterious Traveler" in 1974. Muruga's band, Muruga and the Soda Jerks, were produced by George Clinton, and he recorded with George Clinton, Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
, Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
, and the P-Funk
P-Funk
P-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...
All Stars on the following records:
- 1985 - George Clinton - Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends
- 1984 - Muruga & The Soda Jerks - Boogy With You (45)
- 1983 - George Clinton - You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish
- 1983 - P-Funk All Stars - Urban Dance Floor Guerillas
- 1982 - George Clinton - Computer Games
- 1982 - Godmama (w/Bootsy Collins) - Here
- 1981 - Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking of War Babies
- 1993 - George Clinton - Hey Man, Smell My Finger
- 1995 - P-Funk All Stars - Dope Dogs
In mid-1985 his band Muruga UFM recorded "Terroristic Activities" 1990 and "Rock the Planet" 1993. In 1990 he, his wife Shakti, and Prem Das
Prem Das
Prem Das is a former associate professor at Antioch College and the California Institute of Integral Studies, a drummer, and was well known in the early New Age movement....
recorded the long-selling Journey of the Drums, a pioneering drum album. That same year, Booker joined Merl Saunders
Merl Saunders
Merl Saunders, was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ.-Biography:...
and Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
to record the Grammy-nominated album (and subsequent DVD) Blues From the Rainforest, and their live CDs Save the Planet So We'll Have Someplace to Boogy (1992) and "Fiesta Amazonica" (1998). He also joined Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist and recording artist.- Biography :Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, a small town near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at...
and Sikiru Adepoju
Sikiru Adepoju
Sikiru Adepoju is a percussionist and recording artist from Nigeria, primarily in the genres of traditional African music and world music. He plays a variety of instruments and styles.- Background :...
to record the CD Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations 1993, which was later remixed and distributed on Chesky Records
Chesky Records
Chesky Records is a record label aimed primarily at audiophiles. For the most part, jazz, Latin jazz, classical, and adult contemporary CDs and DVDs are produced, but they also manufacture high end audio equipment. The label was founded and is run by grammy nominated composer David Chesky and his...
as Circle of Drums in 2005. With his Detroit-based band Free Funk, he recorded the self titled colored vinyl LP titled Free Funk in 2005 which was released by Qbico Records. This band released the album OrthoFunkOlogy in 2008.
Other achievements
- Booker invented the nada drum, a variation on the talking drum, which was sold through Latin PercussionLatin PercussionLatin Percussion, also known as LP, is a brand of percussion instruments, specializing in ethnic instruments engineered and manufactured to withstand the rigors of use in a drum kit, orchestral percussion section, and similar applications...
. - He is a recipient of the 1991 Hiroshima Voices for Peace award.
- He was ordained as an Orthodox priest, and operates his own chapel, St. Gregory Palamas, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- He built and operates his own recording studio, Sage Ct. Studios, as well as his own record label, Musart.
Muruga's discography solo & band members
- 2010 - Muruga Booker & Owen B - "Hollow Fazergate" Musart
- 2010 - Jungle (Muruga, Steven SpringerSteven SpringerSteven Springer is an American guitarist and songwriter known for his innovative smooth soft touch guitar style...
, Dave SharpDave Sharp (bass guitarist)Dave Sharp was the touring bass guitarist for the rock band Melvins during their 1993 tour. He currently plays in several bands including Jungle with Muruga Booker and Steven Springer, Spheres of Influence, and his own band the Dave Sharp Secret Seven....
) - Jungle Musart - 2010 - Muruga Booker & Ralph Koziarski - Solstice Trance Mission Musart
- 2010 - Perry Robinson & Muruga Booker - Mystic Overflow Sagittarius/Star-#9
- 2009 - Global Jazz Project - Global Visions EmusicMasters Productions
- 2009 - Global Jazz Project - Tour of the Planet EmusicMasters Productions
- 2009 - Various Artists - Woodstock: 40 Years on: Back to Yasgur's Farm on Rhino Records
- 2008 - Muruga & Perry Robinson Dyad - Bubble Waves LP on Qbico Records
- 2008 - Free Funk - OrthoFunkOlogy on Musart
- 2007 - The White RavensThe White RavensThe White Ravens are an indie rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, featuring brother/sister singer songwriters, Amy and Will Bennett. Amy and Will are currently 18 and 17 years old and formed their band over five years ago. Will composes the music and plays piano and guitar. Amy writes the lyrics,...
- Self Titled Album - 2006 - Muruga & The Global Village Ceremonial Band - One Global Village LP on Qbico Records
- 2005 - Global Jazz Trio - Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge EmusicMasters Productions
- 2005 - Free Funk - Self Titled LP on Qbico Records
- 2005 - Babatunde Olatunji - Circle of Drums (Chesky RecordsChesky RecordsChesky Records is a record label aimed primarily at audiophiles. For the most part, jazz, Latin jazz, classical, and adult contemporary CDs and DVDs are produced, but they also manufacture high end audio equipment. The label was founded and is run by grammy nominated composer David Chesky and his...
) - 2004 - Global Jazz Trio- Live in Concert at the Ark EmusicMasters Productions
- 2003 - Muruga GVCB - One Global Village Musart
- 2003 - Muruga, Dr. Chernin, & Perry Robinson - Kundalini Rhapsody Think Records
- 2003 - Global Jazz Trio - White Christmas Holiday Jazz and Spirits EmusicMasters Productions
- 2002 - Muruga GVCB - Find the Peace & Love Inside Musart
- 2002 - Weather Report - The Best of Weather Report
- 2002 - Dr. Dennis Chernin - How to Meditate Using Chakras, Mantras, and Breath Think Records
- 2001 - Mark Hershberger and EmusicMasters - World Of Survivors EmusicMasters Productions
- 1998 - Merl Saunders - Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends Live
- 1998 - Merl Saunders - Fiesta Amazonica
- 1998 - Thunder Rocks - Sabre Records Story
- 1997 - Low Rocks - Blueberry Jam (Re-Release)
- 1996 - Olatunji, Muruga, & Sikiru - Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations (Musart)
- 1995 - David Peel - Up Against The Wall
- 1995 - P-Funk All Stars - Police Doggy (EP)
- 1995 - P-Funk All Stars - Hydraulic Funk
- 1994 - Allen Ginsberg (w/ Bob Dylan) - Holy Soul Jelly Roll
- 1994 - Muruga & The Soda Jerks - George Clinton Family Series Vol. 4
- 1993 - Muruga UFM - Relix Magazine CD Sampler
- 1993 - Muruga UFM - Rock the Planet
- 1993 - George Clinton - Smell My Finger
- 1993 - George Clinton - Paint the White House Black (EP)
- 1992 - Merl Saunders - Save the Planet So We'll Have Some Place to Boogy
- 1991 - Muruga & Friends - Sacred Drum
- 1991 - Muruga & Prem Das - Ecstacy
- 1990 - Muruga - Muruga
- 1990 - Muruga & Big Black - Sangoma Drum
- 1990 - Muruga & Prem Das - Sanando Tambores
- 1990 - Merl Saunders (w/Jerry Garcia) - Blues From the Rainforest (Ryko)
- 1990 - Muruga & Prem Das - Journey of the Drums
- 1986 - Muruga UFM - Terroristic Activities
- 1986 - Muruga & David Peel - The Muruga & David Peel Experience
- 1985 - George Clinton - Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends
- 1984 - Muruga & The Soda Jerks - Boogy With You (45)
- 1983 - George Clinton - You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish
- 1983 - P-Funk All Stars - Urban Dance Floor Guerillas
- 1982 - George Clinton - Computer Games
- 1982 - Godmama (w/Bootsy Collins) - Here
- 1981 - Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking of War Babies
- 1980 - Mitch Ryder - Naked But Not Dead
- 1980 - David Peel - Death to Disco
- 1979 - David Peel - Junk Rock
- 1978 - David Peel - King of Punk
- 1975 - Larry Nozero - Time
- 1973 - Weather Report - Sweet Nighter
- 1973 - Ursa Major - Ursa Major
- 1972 - Al Kooper - Naked Songs
- 1972 - Gunter Hampel - Angel
- 1971 - Darius Brubeck - Chaplins Back
- 1970 - The Rainbow Band - The Rainbow Band
- 1969 - Swami Satchidananda - Swami Satchidananda
- 1968 - Paul Winter Consort - Something in the Wind
- 1966 - Jim & Jean - People World
- 1964 - Jim & Jean - Changes
- 1962 - Semenals - Open Your Eyes
- 1961 - Keith O'Malley - You Turned Me Out Alvera - I Won't Be Far Behind
- 1960 - Low Rocks - Blueberry Jam
Filmography
- 1990 - Blues From the Rainforest Ryko UPC 00688321200424
- 2005 - One: The Movie Circle of Bliss Productions