Keith Murphy
Newfoundland-born KEITH MURPHY began absorbing his native musical languages - folksongs, ballads and dance music - from an early age. A proficient multi-instrumentalist, he has long applied much of his considerable energy to the rhythmic side, becoming a valued band member (NIGHTINGALE, ASSEMBLY) and sought-after sideman on guitar, mandolin and foot percussion. At the same time, Murphy's natural and lyrical singing and piano playing add a complementary dimension to his music, a thoughtful, well-crafted and ever-respectful take on tradition.
Now residing in Southern Vermont, Keith has variously called Ottawa and Toronto home. Irish ceilidhs, Scottish balls, Quebecois sets and American contras - dance accompaniment was and continues to be much of his career path.His many musical encounters with top players in many styles saw him develop both a harmonic sensitivity and the propulsive right hand that has become his signature sound. His distinctive guitar playing in the popular DADGAD tuning, alternating with a driving chordal mandolin style, and often underlined by his unerring French-Canadian style footwork has accompanied such noted players as Liz Carroll, Martin O'Connor, Winifred Horan, Oliver Schroer and more in the studio and on stage throughout North America and Europe.
Three recordings by Murphy's long-running trio NIGHTINGALE were the first to showcase his vocal abilities, which show the influence of his Maritime forbears along with his passion for - and bilingual facility with - Irish and Quebecois traditional singers and songs. Keith's gentle and expressive tenor voice recalls balladeer Paul Brady and his style a good bit of chantey-masters A.L Lloyd and Lou Killen, but his "ownership" of the songs he carefully chooses to sing is unquestioned. A skillful band arranger schooled in the decades-long folk revival, Murphy brings all of these many talents to the plate for his first vocally-oriented solo outing, "Bound for Canaan"released in 2005.
