Jack Murray | Folk-Blues, Roots-Pop, Americana, Etc.

A brief introduction…

Jack is a veteran singer-songwriter and rock & roller now living in the the northwest corner of southeastern Pennsylvania, often performing as Jack Murray and The Midnight Creeps. His debut CD “Then There’s That…” was released in early 2008. Please take a listen. For more details about Jack and the band check out the READ section.

"I came across your CD last week, and I’ve got to tell you -it’s Gold. I just put that thing on and sat and listened straight through! I aired 2 of the songs this past Saturday "…Amazing Grace" and "Carolina Don’t Look Back" and I had listeners calling and emailing, saying "Who is THAT??!!!" -- Torchy Blaine -DJ at WDVR-FM in Sergeantsville NJ. Her show "Guitar Town" features a blend of outlaw country, alt, roots, Americana.

Debut CD "Then There's That…"

The CD or individual tracks can be purchased at the sites listed below – or, better yet, come to one of the shows and get one from Jack.

Available from these retailers

• iTunes
• CD Baby

Comments, Reviews:

“Thanks for sending that CD along. Amazing to me how many of the songs--which you sent to me on a cassette tape some number of years ago--had stuck with me. Just a little ways into each one I'd be anticipating the next chord change or guitar fill. I was driving an old Chevy S10 Blazer with a cassette player back then, and hearing these songs put me right back there. Found myself remembering, with remarkable clarity, things that I'd long forgotten.

The lyrics are terrific, the chord progressions new and interesting--but I have to admit that it's your killer Tele tone that sticks me like a harpoon. Still having a tough time deciding though, which I like better... the guitar groove in Here's to Hopin', or that first line about "The last rock you look under". Carolina struck me way back when as sort of Jackson Browne-flavored, and still does. Used To Be a River... well, that's just a really, really sad song and even though this CD has been in my (great big) truck for something like six weeks or better, sometimes I still have to skip it. Not because it's not a good song--but because it's too good, maybe. China Sea and If You're Gonna Do Wrong are my undisputed favorites; China because it could be 75 years old, and Do Wrong because it has all the right parts in all the right places and I can sure hear Marty Stuart taking that one for a ride.

I remember Don't Start Without Me from the tape... I like Apalachicola for a lot of reasons, probably mostly because the beat and dropped-D guitar fit the lyrics so well. One To Forget is one that I identify with personally in a big way and I have to thank you for putting what I was thinking into words. All Over Again is a song that's easy to listen to over and over--the lyrics dovetail to the melody perfectly and make it easy for me to appreciate the words each time through, and at the same time, pick up on new instrumental subtleties each time through. I'd happily whack off an appendage or two just to put together one instrumental like Dolly Maguire... that tune is remarkable. On the Down Side came pouring right back in from my memory, too. Similar feel to Here's to Hopin', at least in my mind, and that's what makes great songwriting--it's what lets me hear a song and think, "Oh, I bet Hank Williams (or Tim O'Brien, or Carter Stanley) wrote that..."

John McIltrot, Broadview Montana

* * * * *

"I came across your CD last week, and I’ve got to tell you -it’s Gold. I just put that thing on and sat and listened straight through! I aired 2 of the songs this past Saturday ("…Amazing Grace…" and "Carolina Don’t Look Back") and I had listeners calling and emailing, saying “Who is THAT??!!!"

Torchy Blaine -DJ at WDVR-FM in Sergeantsville NJ. Her show "Guitar Town" features a blend of outlaw country, alt, roots, Americana.

* * * * *

Live Dates

An assortment of photos and posters

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Videos

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Bio

Singer/songwriter Jack Murray, from Sevierville, TN, (Dolly Parton’s hometown as well…) now living in Barto, PA was a founding member of country-rock band Golden Rocket in the late 70s, which featured a unique mix of folk, blues, rock & roll and traditional country music. He’s played in many other musical combinations including The Rockin’ Eddies, while successfully writing for Nashville recording artists (Alabama, Ronnie Sessions, Peter Isaacson, among others) -providing his various country and rock bands with strong and often witty original material. As a charter member of Philadelphia’s own pre-punk Black Flag and other bands in the mid 1970’s, Jack performed in clubs all over the city, including the original Electric Factory.

After an extended hiatus, a recent burst of writing has unexpectedly launched him back into the world of music, having become a popular headlining act as a singer/songwriter at many venues in the Philadelphia area, including Bethlehem’s legendary Godfrey Daniels and MusikFest, Landhaven in Huffs Church and others. He continues to be a popular opening act at the Sellersville Theater, having opened shows for Chris Smither, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jonathan Edwards, Commander Cody Band, Mike Farris and many others. Among other radio interviews and performances, he was a featured solo guest on Gene Shay’s "The Folk Show" on Philadelphia’s WXPN in 2008 -and again in 2009 as Jack Murray & The Midnight Creeps. - Listen here.

Jack has had the honor of being invited to perform in Nashville Writers In The Round concerts by some of Nashville’s nest, including SKB’s Craig Bickhardt, Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer -Thom Schuyler, Poco’s Jack Sundrud and Grammy winner, Don Henry.

When not performing solo or in smaller combinations with other players, Jack fronts The Midnight Creeps –a band ready, willing and very able to handle just about any kind of American music –from blues to folk to rock & roll to classic country music. And in fine style –often (atteringly) compared to bands like NRBQ and Rockpile. The make-up of The Midnight Creeps is a constantly shifting line-up of some of the best players in this part of the world. The “charter” version of the “Creeps” featured guitar wonder Alan Landes, bassist Karl Frick (Los Mighty Manatees) and percussionist Ellen Houle (Tin Bird Choir). The current 2015 line-up features guitarist Alan Landes, bassist Nick Franclik (of BC and the Blues Crew and others) and percussionist Josh Kanusky (The David Bromberg Band and others) along with various others from time to time –on pedal steel, piano, Hammond B3 organ,fiddle, harmonica, etc..

He can be found co-hosting one of the longest running jams in the area: The World Famous Barto Jam with Nick Franclik every Wednesday night at The Other Farm Brewing Company in Boyertown, PA. It’s been going on for over 15 years and has featured a Who’s Who of great local players, along with some amazing nationally known drop-ins -including Barrie Maguire of the Wallowers, the late, great Ann Rabson (Saffire) and Nashville songwriting legend David Olney and others.

Jack’s debut CD “Then There’s That...” was released in early 2008, featuring his unique guitar and vocal stylings and powerful original songs. A new CD is now in the works and is expected to be released this summer.

Lyrics

• Here's To Hopin (That "Amazing Grace" Is True)
• Carolina Don’t Look Back
• Used To Be A River
• China Sea
• (If You’re Gonna Do Wrong) Let’s Do It Right
• Don’t Start Without Me
• Apalachicola
• Or One To Forget
• All Over Again
• On the Down Side, Baby, I’ll Be Pickin Up Speed Again
• Big Strong Men In Great Big Trucks

• Here's To Hopin (That "Amazing Grace" Is True) You know the last rock you look under is the one you been standin on
  Just like the last place you look is where you find it
  Waitin for you all along
  All the lyin, denyin, playin games, pointin fingers, namin names
  So tired of pretendin we don’t do all the things we do
  So here’s to hopin that “Amazing Grace” is true.
  
  They say the moon winks at the ones still standing, doin the best they can
  So take the slack, Jack –and a cup of black coffee
  And try it all over again
  No big mystery, aint no doubt, no more tryin to figure it out
  No more pretendin we don’t do all the things we do
  So here’s to hopin that “Amazing Grace” is true.
  
  C
  But when the moon comes up and the ghosts come out:
  Everything I ought to feel bad about…
  But there in the middle –is everything I still do.
  So here’s to the words of that good old song
  Here’s to gettin back to where we once belonged
  And here’s to hopin that “Amazing Grace” is true.
  
• Carolina Don't Look Back I don’t know where you been so long -just so long as you’re here tonight
  Lookin so good by the radio light -you’re givin me a heart attack
  Don’t look back in your rearview mirror -some ghosts are closer than they might appear
  Hold on tight, Honey I’m right here –and Carolina don’t look back
  
  Carolina when you smile that way –I don’t worry bout the great unknown
  Every day’s just a steppin stone –as this blue world fades to black
  Carolina you’re a sight to see –wavin like a willow to your own sweet song
  Makin it up as you go along –Carolina don’t look back
  
  Carolina don’t look back Carolina don’t look back
  Look straight ahead or look right beside you
  Carolina don’t look back
  
  But if you have to look back over your shoulder -take a good look and then
  Say goodbye to all of those places you never have to go again
  Stand up tall when you turn back round
  Throw your hair back, put your feet on the ground
  Let’s make the most of this love we found
  And Carolina don’t look back
  
  Carolina don’t look back Carolina don’t look back
  Look straight ahead or look right beside you
  Carolina don’t look back
  
  Carolina don’t look back Carolina don’t look back
  Look straight ahead or look right beside you
  Carolina don’t look back
  
• Used To Be A River There used to be a river
  Deep and dancing waters
  Nothin like you ever seen before
  Used to be a river
  There’s no river anymore
  
  I would slip beneath her waters
  Let her channels take me
  Anywhere but where I been before
  Used to be a river
  There’s no river anymore
  
  Look at all the bluebells
  How the willow grew so tall
  Still as green as Eden
  Isn’t like she wasn’t here at all
  
  So I’ll sleep beneath the willow
  Dream of dancing waters here before
  Used to be a river
  There’s no river anymore
  
• China Sea Woke up this mornin, good gal on my, good gal on my mind
  Woke up this mornin, with my good gal on my mind
  Woke up this mornin, with my good gal on my mind
  She’s a sweet little woman –hate to leave her behind
  
  Did you ever wake up –feelin cold in hand
  Did you ever wake up just feelin cold in hand
  Did you ever wake up just feelin cold in hand
  That’s a sure sign, Buddy –your woman’s got another man
  
  She got eyes like the ocean –deeper than the China Sea
  Eyes like the ocean –deeper than the China Sea
  She got eyes like the ocean –deeper than the China Sea
  Got a ring on her finger but her heart belongs to me
  
  She got some ways about her –make me wanna walk the line
  She got some ways about her –make me wanna walk the line
  She got some ways about her –make me wanna walk the line
  Got my hand in my pocket –every time she cross my mind
  
  Got trouble in mind and I guess I always will
  Trouble in mind and I guess I always will
  Trouble in mind and I guess I always will
  But this trouble in love –sure gonna get me killed
  
• (If You're Gonna Do Wrong Let's Do It Right) I saw that stop sign on your finger one drink too late
  Now there’s no pretendin this horse aint out of the gate
  And I just laid out about twenty good reasons why you oughta go on home tonight
  But if you’re gonna do wrong, let’s do it right
  
  I might say I seen the devil lookin through those eyes
  If I was one to judge you or to sermonize
  But you’ve not bought one of my real good reasons why you ought to go on home tonight
  So if you’re gonna do wrong, let’s do it right
  
  But if your mind’s made up, Baby –don’t keep me waitin in line
  And if you’re gonna break somebody’s heart tonight
  It might as well be mine
  
  Ain’t had it this bad this good since I don’t know when
  And here and now aint ever gonna happen again
  And if my almost heartfelt real good reasons don’t make you go on home tonight
  And you’re gonna do wrong, let’s do it right
  
• Don't Start Without Me Rollin Down the Mountain now Baby -eight days on the road
  All the straps are snappin now Baby –oversize load
  Turn on the porch light Baby –got somethin for you
  I know you’re tired of waitin now Baby –but whatever you do…
  
  Don’t start without me –don’t cross that line
  Think you can get along without me?
  You’re about to change your mind
  
  Don’t burn the bisquits Baby –gonna be there soon
  Don’t go slippin and slidin, Honey –don’t make me dust my broom
  You know you’re an angel Baby –to do me like you do
  But stay out of the Devil’s Playground –we got some work to do
  
  And don’t start without me –if you’re so inclined
  Think you can get along without me?
  You’re about to change your mind
  
  Don’t start without me –you might go blind
  Think you can get along without me?
  You’re about to change your mind
  
• Apalachicola You got the kids and I got the sofa –sign on the house says “Sold”
  The leaves fell down, the days are getting chilly
  The nights are getting long and cold
  They cut off the lights and turned off the heat and the phone man took out the phones
  Guess I’ll just point south, step on the pedal
  To someplace to warm my bones
  
  But if you want to try to find me –can’t tell you where to go
  Just don’t go lookin in Apalachicola on the Gulf of Mexico
  
  Don’t call the bank and don’t call my lawyer –let ‘em think I turned up dead
  I been a one-car wreck since you cleared the deck
  And left me here to shake my head
  Now I’m livin on coffee and oatmeal pies til this road runs out of land
  I’ll put my knees in the air, my feet in the water
  And my back on the soft, warm sand
  
  But if you want to try to find me –can’t tell you where to go
  But I might wash up in Apalachicola on the Gulf of Mexico
  
  North of Venezuela, east of Alabama, south of everywhere I know
  Listenin to the sunset sizzle in the water
  West of old Mexico
  But if someday you come to your senses –if you ever change your mind
  I’ll be the one lookin lost without you
  I won’t be hard to find
  
  But if you want to try to find me –only one way to go
  Walkin the beach in Apalachicola on the Gulf of Mexico
  
  Yeah you’ll find a way to find -or I’m gonna let you go
  But it’s gonna be in Apalachicola on the Gulf of Mexico
  
• Or One To Forget When I turn the lights off –you turn em back on
  When I get it right, Girl –there’s still somethin wrong
  So tired of singin a song that don’t rhyme
  And doin this two-step in three-quarter time
  
  If I knew then -what I know now
  I’d still be here tryin to figure you out
  Tell me what kind of magic turns a love to regret?
  Was it one to rememeber –or one to forget?
  
  Like runaway horses –our words got around
  Til nobody’s business was all over town
  Weary of pickin my clothes off the lawn
  And not turnin loose of what’s already gone
  
  If I knew then -what I know now
  I’d still be here tryin to figure you out
  Tell me what kind of magic turns a love to regret?
  Was it one to rememeber –or one to forget?
  
  You said “It’s Over” –I thought it would last
  Now we know our future’s a thing of the past
  But maybe tomorrow I’ll smile when I say
  “Yeah –there goes a mystery” and just waltz away
  
  If I knew then -what I know now
  I’d still be here tryin to figure you out
  Tell me what kind of magic turns a love to regret?
  Was it one to rememeber –or one to forget?
  
• All Over Again Here you come again like little Miss Moonbeam
  Smilin brave as a daydream
  The kind that wants to come true
  But it was just the mornin sun on my shoulder
  Same old dream –another day older
  Startin all over with you
  
  Can’t help but wonder if maybe
  We’d ever had the same dream, Baby
  Neither one of us would want it to end
  And put away the pride that blinds us
  Decorate the ties that bind us
  And start all over again
  
  C
  I dreamed last night we started all over again
  But when the dawn starts breakin –I don’t know where to begin
  But in dreams sometimes I’m not past pretending
  There’s going to be a Hollywood ending
  And start all over again
  
  Well I guess these dreams are always going to haunt me
  Sometimes I know you still want me
  Sometimes I’m wanting you too
  But on some bright night when the moon is beaming
  You might smile to know I’m still dreaming
  Of startin all over with you
  
  C
  I dreamed last night we started all over again
  But when the dawn starts breakin –I don’t know where to begin
  But in dreams sometimes I’m not past pretending
  There’s going to be a Hollywood ending
  And start all over again
  
• (On the Down Side, Baby, I'll Be) Pickin Up Speed Again I got her down off the blocks and back on the road now
  Been a long time comin but I’m ready to go now
  Now it ain’t easy getting over this mountain, my friend
  But on the down side, Baby, I’ll be pickin up speed again
  
  Hittin speed traps, road-blocks and every little town now
  If they won’t let me through –gonna just go around now
  But I know I can make it up over that mountain -cause I done it before, my friend
  And on the down side, Baby, I’ll be pickin up speed again
  
  Well now that we’re rollin, I’m gonna keep going, Honey, come on along with me
  Come on if you’re comin, Baby do what you wanna –but I sure love your company
  We gotta take it easy on the up side, Baby –but I got everything we need
  But on the down side, Baby, we’ll be pickin up speed…
  
  Now the sun’s gone down but the moon’s so bright now
  And, yes, you’re sure looking pretty tonight now
  Might have to pull on over –cause I got a thing or two I’d love to do with you, my friend
  But on the down side, Baby, we’ll be pickin up speed again
  
• Big Strong Men In Great Big Trucks When I was just a little pup
  I knew what I wanted when I grew up
  I wanted to stomp and spit and cuss
  Like big strong men in great big trucks
  
  Big strong men in great big trucks
  When people are Wrong –we beat them up
  Like big strong men in great big trucks
  
  Nails in my lunchpail, black tattoos
  Stinky big feet in steel-toed shoes
  Chicks on my left and my right arm too
  Like big strong men in great big trucks
  
  Big strong men in great big trucks
  When people are Wrong –we beat them up
  Like big strong men in great big trucks
  
  Getting in fights with the boys in town
  Gettin all sweaty and dirty and brown
  And pick out the “pansies” and Push Them Down
  Like big strong men in great big trucks
  
  Big strong men in great big trucks
  When people are Wrong –we beat them up
  Like big strong men in great big trucks
  

Booking Dept.

Jack performs as a solo artist –or as a duo or trio with acoustic bass and/or guitar. He often performs as “Jack Murray and the Midnight Creeps” in four or five piece configurations, acoustical or electric. The electric version of “The Creeps” is a great roots-rock, country and blues dance band. Although the line-up is subject to change without notice –it always consists of some of the very best musicians to be found in this part of the world. The current line-up features stalwart Alan Landes on guitar, Nick Franclik on bass and Josh Kanusky on drums.

Contact

• Ramona LaBarre at Blue Muse Artists by phone or by email:
• Email: bluemuse3@gmail.com
• Phone: 484-695-3577

• Contact Jack:
• Email: jcmurraydesign@aol.com

Download Jack's One-Sheet