Hello world!
Well, my 81 year old Mom, Maxine, says that I am a legend in my own mind. So, I guess introductions aren’t really necessary. Well, not to Mom anyway. But, for the rest of you…
”Hello!” I am Michael “Big Dog” Murphy, a blues musician (singer and guitarist), and am new to Citizen Wausau, but not to music, or politics, or religion, or divorces and marriages, or McDonald’s or Burger King, or large all-you-can-eat buffets, nor child support and alimony. When you’re as old as I am, you’re not new to a whole lot of anything!
I have a band, it’s called “Michael Murphy and the MOB”. MOB is an acronym for Men Of Blues. Not politically correct, I’m sure, but that’s the name just the same. My bass player, Rick “Smokey” Smith, was formerly with the legendary blind blues man ”Bryan Lee”. I am so lucky to have him as part of the rhythm section. My drummer, a young, young kid named Andy “Lil Boo” Booher. He’s just getting out of high-school!! As a matter of fact, he is at this very moment, closing the zipper on his suitcase, to head down to Florida for spring break with his high-school buddies! Remember those days!!!??! Andy was taught by one of the most well known drummers in the Midwest - Spence Panosh (Dave Steffen, Rev’ Raven!) And the boy plays 20 years ahead of his time.
Me? I’m just the leader of the band. My name’s on the banner. I am not famous, but I still have the dream, and I always will. Without the dream, I’m just a radio. I will never be a radio, that’s for someone else to try and justify. Me, I’m a real deal! I’m creative, not necessarily innovative - it is blues for Christ’s sake, but I am certainly bringing it from somewhere deep inside. Sometimes so deep, I don’t even know where it comes from. Truthfully, most of the time, I have no idea where it’s coming from, but I am so glad it is. It’s kind of like that cat in Edgar Lee Masters’ ”Spoon River Anthology”, Fiddler Jones, when he said, “The earth keeps some kind of vibration going there in your heart, and that is you! And if the people find you can fiddle, why, fiddle you must, for all your life.” And there you have it!
Likes and dislikes? Like anyone else, I have some. Bic pens, for instance. Don’t like’m. Chef Bonnie’s Past Fasu - LOVE IT!!!!
Favorite stuff? I have some favorite stuff too. And, some not so favorite stuff. Alimony. I can do without that. Rap music. Listen, I’ve been listening to rap music long before it was called rap - it was called Square Dancing! Yeehaaa!
There’s a lot of stuff I could write about: State of the Blues; “good ol’ boy” music networks; effectiveness (or not-) of blues societies; American Idol (pulhleeze NO!); racism (I like NASCAR as well as anybody — Go fast, turn left! Go Fast, turn left!); taverns with robots for beverage technicians; non smoking regulations; sex in government; sex out of government; etc.
But, I am going to let this short little intro do, for now.
dog
Dino Corvino said:
way to Mike
March 27th, 2008 at 9:10 am #
bigdogmurphy said:
Not real sure where to take this blog!
Music makes the world go ’round. My world anyway. I’m not a politician but I guess I am political! I’m not in to controversy, but I guess I do find my self a little controversial.
Brett Favre has retired. Muddy Waters is dead. Big Dog Murphy is still alive and going at it.
Amen!
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 am #