The Wheel and Jim Murphy

Les Pierce · Post by **Les Pierce** » 23 Sep 2001 4:07 pm

Had the pleasure to play guitar with a band that opened for Asleep at the Wheel last night. (Schroeder Hall, Schroeder, Texas).

Ray Benson and Band where execellent as always, (in spite of a bad sound system).

Jim Murphy was playing steel and doing a fantastic job of it, too. He was jumping back and forth from pedal to non-pedal and seemed equally comfortable on both. His pedal was a Bethel D-10(sp?), and non was an old Epiphone twin neck, 8 & 7 string. He said he thought it was from 1937 era.

He said he was with them full time to stay. A very good choice, IMHO.

He was using an Evans amp, also. This is the second time I have heard an Evans amp in a live situation, and they both sounded great.

They did Johnny Bush's "What a Way to Live", which I couldn't imagine sounding the same on the lap steel as it did on the pedals.

Needless to say, I am inspired once again to practice my pedals.

Catch them if you get the chance, you won't regret it.

Take care,

Les

Larry Harlan · Post by **Larry Harlan** » 24 Sep 2001 6:49 am

Q. Is this the same Jim Murphy that used to play steel with Hank Thompson for a little while back in the mid 70's? And previous to that was with Carl Smith and put an instrumetnal rendition of "Big Murph" on one of Carl's albums. Is this the same person?

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 24 Sep 2001 6:59 am

ABSOLUTELY ! the same one! regards, fred

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 24 Sep 2001 7:24 am

....and was also with Merl Lindsay and the Ozark Jubilee band for a brief period in 1964.......

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 24 Sep 2001 10:56 am

Gene, I've known Jim since about 1974..I didn't know that about Ozark band. Thanks ! regards, fred

Woody Woodell · Post by **Woody Woodell** » 25 Sep 2001 7:14 am

Jim Murphy was also the SAX player on "Hey Bartender" by Johnny Lee. He DOES get by, doesn't he?

Bill Bailey · Post by **Bill Bailey** » 25 Sep 2001 7:39 pm

And Carl Smith!

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Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 25 Sep 2001 7:58 pm

And Loretta Lynn 1968-69.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 25 Sep 2001 11:01 pm

Seems like he just couldn't hold a job,could he?

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Richard Bass · Post by **Richard Bass** » 26 Sep 2001 1:22 am

And Dave Dudley. Around 1969 or 1970.

Woody Woodell · Post by **Woody Woodell** » 26 Sep 2001 7:05 am

...And Johnny Paycheck in the late '70s.

Rich Mounce · Post by **Rich Mounce** » 26 Sep 2001 11:48 am

One of the greatest sounding CD's is the Johnny Paycheck live in New York City. That is the Big Murph playing on it and what a monster band. We are playing cuts off of that on Steelradio.com.

Rich Mounce
Promotion Director http://steelradio.com

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Sep 2001 2:28 pm

We must not forget his fabulous stint with Vasser Clements.

I remember meeting Jim in 82 or 83 when my band was in Nashville for a battle of the bands. He was playing at the Rodeway Inn and his band allowed us to set up and play a few tunes. Really nice man.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 26 Sep 2001 3:13 pm

... and the Earl Scruggs Review back in the mid-70's.

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