Painting by Sergei Chernikov

Portrait of an artist

Perhaps a bit unorthodox, but Terry Murphy's musical journey really began in the Catholic school classrooms by day and the AM radio by night. In the 1960's, whatever the motivation--fear, boredom, or a mischievous desire to be a bit of a hell-raiser--young Terry picked up the guitar and started picking along with classics like The Troggs' "Wild Thing", on a guitar he bought with paper route money on his 12th birthday….The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show may have lit the fire. In time, several influential teachers planted a seed to change the world through the musical application of the written word.

Starting solo performance in college at Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the early 70"s at open mics, coffee houses, pubs and the ever famous after bar party scene, He has continued to play at all kinds of places around the United States for all kinds of reasons with talented music friends, from Phoenix to Denver to Milwaukee and all the little towns in Wisconsin along the way.

The mid 80’s brought about personal changes, including marriage, kids, teaching, coaching and domesticity, certainly enriching a writer’s sense of perspective, depth and resolve.

Song writing became more of a focus in the last 20 plus years. Driven by teaching song writing to kids, self study, discipline or stubborn persistence, there continues to be a need to share observations and opinions about everything from politics, relationships, people, places and things. In short, to identify as a creative writer, one must write.

These reflections brought about purposeful songwriting
in professional settings (writing songs about HS seniors after running cross country) or weddings, end of life celebrations, reunions, retirements or birthdays. Of course, singing originals for solo or duo performance (Jeff Peterson and Pete Evans) or music groups he was performing with at the time, including the Camelback Minstrels in Burlington, Last Man Standing and The Cherry Pickers, both in Door County, in the past 10 years provided a spark to make studio recordings, LIVE LIKE AN ARTIST (2006), SMALL TOWN CHARM (2008), TENNISON BAY (2010), TAVERNS N’ TAPS (2012), KICKIN’ THE DREAM (2014), CURIOUS WATERS (2016), MY BETTER DAYS (2020), and now again in 2022. The most recent recording, WASTED POTENTIAL, was produced by current duo partner John Rood Lewis.

The Murphy’s now call Fish Creek, Wisconsin, home, enjoying the darkness of summer at the edge of the woods, on their back porch, watching the dragon fly's dance with mosquitos….with a spoiled Golden Retriever, Yogi, waiting for the next pizza crust to fall his way.

Photos by Kati

in the news

MURPHY, TAYLOR RELEASE ANTI-WAR OPUS - DOOR COUNTY PULSE - 4/27/23

TERRY MURPHY RELEASES EIGHTH ALBUM - DOOR COUNTY PULSE - 1/25/23