Red and Murphy & Co- Fast Picks and Hot Licks

DSCN0047This was $2.00.  It was autographed by Red and Murphy.

DSCN0048Red and Murphy and Co were a bluegrass band formed by husband and wife Red and Murphy Henry with Murphy’s sisters on rhythm mandolin and bass fiddle.   Murphy, who grew up singing in church and learning piano, picked up the guitar during the folk boom of the sixties (at least I imagine).  Teaching her sisters to play in order to back her up, she played around the University of Georgia.  After playing bass in more established acts, Murphy realized that she would gain more spotlight playing the banjo.  She met Red Henry at a bluegrass festival.  Shortly after, they got married and formed a band.  Based out of Gainesville, Florida, they would perform regularly from the mid 70’s to 1986.  They would be backed up by Murphy’s sisters as well as their children as time progressed.  I believe their daughter , Casey, has become quite accomplished in her own right.R_M1985a

During this time, Murphy taught banjo and after some evolution, the couple started their own instruction method.  With this endeavor, the family band gets together about twice a year and both Red and Murphy play here and there as well.  Murphy also wrote a book recently, Pretty Good for a Girl, documenting the unsung role of women in bluegrass.

Murphy Method Webpage

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The album itself, is pretty good bluegrass.  Released in 1978, it is a collection of rolling banjo and mandolin tunes backed up with vocals from the family.  Additionally, Red plays fiddle on a few of the tunes as well.  Some of the highlights include the title track, “The Band Played On”, “Hold Back the Waters” and “Cabin in Caroline”

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I really wanted to pick a song that showcased Murphy’s vocals as a sample, but for some reason, I fell in love with the Stamps-Baxter song, “He Will Set Your Fields on Fire”, with Red on lead vocals.  The females do an excellent job on backup vocals and the playing is good as well.  maxresdefault

Satisfactory rating.  If you are a casual bluegrass fan, the genre may get old after awhile, but in terms of both technical prowess and emotional expression, this album accomplishes both.

 

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