Willie Murphy Bio

With over three decades of music making, Willie Murphy has forged a unique and impressive musical legacy as a singer, producer, arranger, performer and songwriter's songwriter.

Murphy's 1969 collaboration with folk/blue legend "Spider" John Koerner, "Running, Jumping, Standing Still," originally recorded at Elektra's Paxton Lodge and recently reissued on Red House Records, is still acclaimed as an all-time folk/blues classic.

Formed in 1970, the political, poetical, multi-racial Willie and the Bees defined live R&B/soul music throughout the 70's and into the 80's. The band was famous for their unique blending of blues, R&B, jazz, funk, reggae and rock into an electric and eclectic sound that still defies categorization to this day.

In 1971, a still unknown Bonnie Raitt hired Willie to produce her debut album "Bonnie Raitt" for Warner Brothers Records. The album, recorded at Dave " Snaker" Ray's Lake Minnetonka studio just outside Minneapolis, featured Willie and his legendary band the Bees, along with Chicago blues legends Junior Wells and AC Reed.

In 1990 Willie Murphy was named as one of the three charter members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame along with Bob Dylan and Prince.

Throughout the 90's and into the new millennium Willie Murphy continues to bring his unique brand of soul music to audiences across the globe. With his new band, the Angel Headed Hipsters, Willie continues to sell out performances throughout the United States as well as headlining major festivals in France, Italy and the Netherlands.