Matt “Guitar” Murphy Dead at 88

One of the greatest sidemen in the history of blues music, Matt “Guitar” Murphy died last night. He was 88. Murphy’s death was confirmed by his nephew, Floyd Murphy, Jr. in a Facebook post:

Well they say when it rains it pours…i was just told that my uncle Matt Guitar Murphy passed away last night. I can’t feel a freaking thing in my body now but I must stay strong cause he was a strong man that lived a long long fruitful life that poured his heart out in every guitar solo he took.



Matt “Guitar” Murphy garnered a huge audience for his work with the Blues Brothers. He recorded on their albums, appeared in both movies, and toured with the band until suffering a stroke in 2002.

Prior to his Blues Brothers gigs, Murphy was a stalwart sideman for artists that included Howlin’ Wolf, Little Junior Parker, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Memphis Slim, Chuck Berry, Otis Rush, Sonny Boy Williamson, Etta James, and James Cotton to name just a few.

https://www.americanbluesscene.com/matt-guitar-murphy-dead-at-88/