Juggy Murray
Juggy Murray | |
---|---|
Birth name | Henry Murray Jones Jr. |
Born | November 24, 1923 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
Died | February 8, 2005 Bronx, New York City | (aged 81)
Occupation(s) | Record-label owner, producer, singer-songwriter |
Labels | Symbol, Crackerjack, Eastern , Juggy, Jupiter |
Juggy Murray (November 24, 1923 – February 8, 2005) was an American record label owner, producer and singer-songwriter.
Life and career
Murray was born in Charleston, South Carolina and raised in Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan. His nickname, "Juggy", derived from his near-blind grandfather, who would ask Murray to bring his favorite jug and fill it up with liquor.[1]
Murray worked in real estate in Harlem before he and producer Bobby Robinson co-founded Sue Records in 1957. Initially, they intended to sell R&B music to the African American community in New York, but in 1958 with "Itchy Twitchy Feeling" by Bobby Hendricks was a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.[1]
In 1960, Murray signed
In 1962, Murray signed Barbara George to the label. He paid $25,000 for her contract from
Sue was originally licensed by
Murray moved to California and recorded a few singles. In the 1970s, he launched Juggernaught and Jupiter Records. He released his debut album Inside America on his Jupiter label in 1976, which was popular on the UK dancefloors. The title track made the Top Forty in Britain.[1] That album was followed by Rhythm and Blues in 1977. He continued to work into the new millennium, producing and promoting up and coming artists. Speaking of Baby Washington, Murray once said, "I would rather record her than eat."[11]
Death
Murray died on February 8, 2005, at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. Though Murray was 81 and suffering from Parkinson's disease, he and Baby Washington had been working on recording comeback material.
Discography
Albums
- 1976: Inside America (Jupiter 1101)
- 1977: Rhythm And Blues (Jupiter 1402)
Singles
- 1966: "Soul At Sunrise" / "Just A Minute" (Sue 45-140/142)
- 1969: "Oily" / "The Spoiler" (SUE 9)
- 1970: "Buttered Popcorn" / "Thock It To Me Honi" (SUE 14)
- 1972: "Built For Speed (Part 1 And 2)" / "Built For Speed (Part 1)" (Pony 1A / 1B)
- 1976: "Inside America โ Pt. I" / "Inside America โ Pt. II" (Jupiter JUP-902)
- 1976: "Disco Extraordinaire (Part I)" / "Disco Extraordinaire (Part II)" (Jupiter JUP-903)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Juggy Murray". The Independent. April 20, 2005.
- ^ "English Issue For Sue On Island". Billboard. December 21, 1963. p. 18.
- OCLC 804890832.
- ^ "Sue Gets Sued In 330G Suit" (PDF). Billboard. November 24, 1962. p. 6.
- ^ "Music As Written" (PDF). Billboard. April 21, 1962. p. 14.
- OCLC 1000050650.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "Artist Biographies: Barbara George" (PDF). Billboard. December 18, 1961. p. 21.
- ^ "Jimi Hendrix's Landmark Final Album, 'Band Of Gypsys,' Celebrated With Remastered 50th Anniversary Vinyl Editions". AP NEWS. February 6, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-06-056299-1.
- ^ "English Issue For Sue On Island" (PDF). Billboard. December 21, 1963. p. 18.
- OCLC 434080574.
I would rather record her than eat murray.
External links
- Respect: Soulwalking
- Juggy Murray biography via Spectropop.com