JPMURPHY

Berkshire band finds a bit of the blarney's in vogue
By Lani Stack
FLORIDA - Irish music rings out from the not-yet-40-shades-of-green fields and woods of Florida Mountain and beyond, thanks to the James Patrick Murphy Band.

The three-man band - which sometimes numbers four or more when guest fiddlers join in - celebrates the proud character of the Emerald Isle and its people with songs of the centuries of rebellion under English rule, patriotic heroes, emigration and long sea voyages, joy and sorrow and, of course, whiskey and tobacco.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, are among the band's busiest, and today (Thursday, March 16) the group will release its third CD of Irish music, "Volume 3 of the James Patrick Murphy Band," just in time for a weekend full of the wearing o' the green.

"The songs celebrate the spirit of the Irish people after being put down for so many years," the band's senior member, Patrick Gray Sr., an avowed Irish-American, said in a recent interview. "For St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate through food, drink and music - just like with most other celebrations."

He added, "For me, the songs relate to freedom and the creation of the Republic of Ireland and getting out from under the claws of England - and until we get those last six counties free [in Ulster, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom], Ireland will never be completely free."

Gray performs lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo, mandolin or the occasional harmonica, while his son, Patrick Gray Jr. of Florida, plays guitar and sings vocals. Longtime family friend Michael Burdick of Petersburgh, N.Y., plays electric drums, sings vocals and occasionally plays the bodhran, a traditional Celtic goat-skin drum. Guest fiddlers Fred Lantz of Bennington, Vt., or John Dorrington of New Canaan, N.Y., often round out the group, performing traditional and popular Irish tunes as well as original compositions influenced by the Irish music tradition, folk favorites and songs that celebrate New England pride.

Among Gray Sr.'s 300-some original songs about the state are "Make It In Massachusetts," which was proclaimed a gift to the state in the early 1980s by then-Gov. Michael Dukakis and adapted as a marketing jingle, and his "In the Tunnel," named the theme song of the Hoosac Tunnel in 1979 by then-Gov. Edward King. His other compositions include "The Spirit of Massachusetts," "The Blue Hills of Massachusetts," "The Spirit of Springfield" (commissioned by the city of Springfield for its tri-centennial celebration) and a reworking of "The Patriots Game." That traditional Irish tune, commemorating the death of Irish Republican Army hero Fergal O'Hanlan in 1956, became the rallying cry for the New England football team's first attempt at a Super Bowl win in 1986.

The song hasn't yet been performed at a New England Patriots' game, but "I sing it at the TV when the Patriots are playing," Gray said with a grin.

But come mid-March, Irish favorites are what the band's audiences want to hear. At Carmody's restaurant in Bennington, on Sunday, the James Patrick Murphy Band performed many of the classic tunes - "Whiskey in a Jar," "All For Me Grogg," "The Irish Rover," The Wild Rover," "The Orange and the Green" and others - while the restaurant served a special corned beef and cabbage feast.

"They'll sing along," Gray said in a pre-show interview. "A lot of people will come up and do the jigs. And we like to ask people if they have relatives who are from a certain part of Ireland, and we ask them about that."

His son said that even if audience members aren't Irish themselves, they "usually have a lot in common with the Irish."

He added, "At a lot of the shows, they know about the Irish history and they know the songs - the clapping part of the 'Wild Rover,' for example. Even younger people know them. I only know the songs because my father got me into them."

The Grays can easily trace their Irish ancestry back to the motherland. Gray Sr.'s mother, Helen Rose Murphy, was born in Ireland's County Longford, in the middle of the island, and raised during the Revolution of 1916 and its aftermath. Murphy was a messenger for the Longford Regiment of the IRA in the 1920s, and her cousin was IRA hero General Sean McEoin, who led an attack against Crown forces in 1920 and was later named the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Defense for the newly-created Irish Free State. He was also twice a candidate for president with the Fine Gael party (the second largest political party), in 1945 and 1959. The James Patrick Murphy band is named in memory of another family member, Gray Sr.'s great uncle, Patrick James - The Advocate

Berkshire band finds a bit of the blarney's in vogue
By Lani Stack
FLORIDA - Irish music rings out from the not-yet-40-shades-of-green fields and woods of Florida Mountain and beyond, thanks to the James Patrick Murphy Band.

The three-man band - which sometimes numbers four or more when guest fiddlers join in - celebrates the proud character of the Emerald Isle and its people with songs of the centuries of rebellion under English rule, patriotic heroes, emigration and long sea voyages, joy and sorrow and, of course, whiskey and tobacco.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, are among the band's busiest, and today (Thursday, March 16) the group will release its third CD of Irish music, "Volume 3 of the James Patrick Murphy Band," just in time for a weekend full of the wearing o' the green.

"The songs celebrate the spirit of the Irish people after being put down for so many years," the band's senior member, Patrick Gray Sr., an avowed Irish-American, said in a recent interview. "For St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate through food, drink and music - just like with most other celebrations."

He added, "For me, the songs relate to freedom and the creation of the Republic of Ireland and getting out from under the claws of England - and until we get those last six counties free [in Ulster, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom], Ireland will never be completely free."

Gray performs lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo, mandolin or the occasional harmonica, while his son, Patrick Gray Jr. of Florida, plays guitar and sings vocals. Longtime family friend Michael Burdick of Petersburgh, N.Y., plays electric drums, sings vocals and occasionally plays the bodhran, a traditional Celtic goat-skin drum. Guest fiddlers Fred Lantz of Bennington, Vt., or John Dorrington of New Canaan, N.Y., often round out the group, performing traditional and popular Irish tunes as well as original compositions influenced by the Irish music tradition, folk favorites and songs that celebrate New England pride.

Among Gray Sr.'s 300-some original songs about the state are "Make It In Massachusetts," which was proclaimed a gift to the state in the early 1980s by then-Gov. Michael Dukakis and adapted as a marketing jingle, and his "In the Tunnel," named the theme song of the Hoosac Tunnel in 1979 by then-Gov. Edward King. His other compositions include "The Spirit of Massachusetts," "The Blue Hills of Massachusetts," "The Spirit of Springfield" (commissioned by the city of Springfield for its tri-centennial celebration) and a reworking of "The Patriots Game." That traditional Irish tune, commemorating the death of Irish Republican Army hero Fergal O'Hanlan in 1956, became the rallying cry for the New England football team's first attempt at a Super Bowl win in 1986.

The song hasn't yet been performed at a New England Patriots' game, but "I sing it at the TV when the Patriots are playing," Gray said with a grin.

But come mid-March, Irish favorites are what the band's audiences want to hear. At Carmody's restaurant in Bennington, on Sunday, the James Patrick Murphy Band performed many of the classic tunes - "Whiskey in a Jar," "All For Me Grogg," "The Irish Rover," The Wild Rover," "The Orange and the Green" and others - while the restaurant served a special corned beef and cabbage feast.

"They'll sing along," Gray said in a pre-show interview. "A lot of people will come up and do the jigs. And we like to ask people if they have relatives who are from a certain part of Ireland, and we ask them about that."

His son said that even if audience members aren't Irish themselves, they "usually have a lot in common with the Irish."

He added, "At a lot of the shows, they know about the Irish history and they know the songs - the clapping part of the 'Wild Rover,' for example. Even younger people know them. I only know the songs because my father got me into them."

The Grays can easily trace their Irish ancestry back to the motherland. Gray Sr.'s mother, Helen Rose Murphy, was born in Ireland's County Longford, in the middle of the island, and raised during the Revolution of 1916 and its aftermath. Murphy was a messenger for the Longford Regiment of the IRA in the 1920s, and her cousin was IRA hero General Sean McEoin, who led an attack against Crown forces in 1920 and was later named the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Defense for the newly-created Irish Free State. He was also twice a candidate for president with the Fine Gael party (the second largest political party), in 1945 and 1959. The James Patrick Murphy band is named in memory of another family member, Gray Sr.'s great uncle, Patrick James - The Advocate

Berkshire band finds a bit of the blarney's in vogue
By Lani Stack
FLORIDA - Irish music rings out from the not-yet-40-shades-of-green fields and woods of Florida Mountain and beyond, thanks to the James Patrick Murphy Band.

The three-man band - which sometimes numbers four or more when guest fiddlers join in - celebrates the proud character of the Emerald Isle and its people with songs of the centuries of rebellion under English rule, patriotic heroes, emigration and long sea voyages, joy and sorrow and, of course, whiskey and tobacco.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, are among the band's busiest, and today (Thursday, March 16) the group will release its third CD of Irish music, "Volume 3 of the James Patrick Murphy Band," just in time for a weekend full of the wearing o' the green.

"The songs celebrate the spirit of the Irish people after being put down for so many years," the band's senior member, Patrick Gray Sr., an avowed Irish-American, said in a recent interview. "For St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate through food, drink and music - just like with most other celebrations."

He added, "For me, the songs relate to freedom and the creation of the Republic of Ireland and getting out from under the claws of England - and until we get those last six counties free [in Ulster, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom], Ireland will never be completely free."

Gray performs lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo, mandolin or the occasional harmonica, while his son, Patrick Gray Jr. of Florida, plays guitar and sings vocals. Longtime family friend Michael Burdick of Petersburgh, N.Y., plays electric drums, sings vocals and occasionally plays the bodhran, a traditional
Berkshire band finds a bit of the blarney's in vogue
By Lani Stack
FLORIDA - Irish music rings out from the not-yet-40-shades-of-green fields and woods of Florida Mountain and beyond, thanks to the James Patrick Murphy Band.

The three-man band - which sometimes numbers four or more when guest fiddlers join in - celebrates the proud character of the Emerald Isle and its people with songs of the centuries of rebellion under English rule, patriotic heroes, emigration and long sea voyages, joy and sorrow and, of course, whiskey and tobacco.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, are among the band's busiest, and today (Thursday, March 16) the group will release its third CD of Irish music, "Volume 3 of the James Patrick Murphy Band," just in time for a weekend full of the wearing o' the green.

"The songs celebrate the spirit of the Irish people after being put down for so many years," the band's senior member, Patrick Gray Sr., an avowed Irish-American, said in a recent interview. "For St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate through food, drink and music - just like with most other celebrations."

He added, "For me, the songs relate to freedom and the creation of the Republic of Ireland and getting out from under the claws of England - and until we get those last six counties free [in Ulster, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom], Ireland will never be completely free."

Gray performs lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo, mandolin or the occasional harmonica, while his son, Patrick Gray Jr. of Florida, plays guitar and sings vocals. Longtime family friend Michael Burdick of Petersburgh, N.Y., plays electric drums, sings vocals and occasionally plays the bodhran, a traditional
- Irish River Music Songs and Press

Berkshire band finds a bit of the blarney's in vogue
By Lani Stack
FLORIDA - Irish music rings out from the not-yet-40-shades-of-green fields and woods of Florida Mountain and beyond, thanks to the James Patrick Murphy Band.

The three-man band - which sometimes numbers four or more when guest fiddlers join in - celebrates the proud character of the Emerald Isle and its people with songs of the centuries of rebellion under English rule, patriotic heroes, emigration and long sea voyages, joy and sorrow and, of course, whiskey and tobacco.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, are among the band's busiest, and today (Thursday, March 16) the group will release its third CD of Irish music, "Volume 3 of the James Patrick Murphy Band," just in time for a weekend full of the wearing o' the green.

"The songs celebrate the spirit of the Irish people after being put down for so many years," the band's senior member, Patrick Gray Sr., an avowed Irish-American, said in a recent interview. "For St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate through food, drink and music - just like with most other celebrations."

He added, "For me, the songs relate to freedom and the creation of the Republic of Ireland and getting out from under the claws of England - and until we get those last six counties free [in Ulster, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom], Ireland will never be completely free."

Gray performs lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo, mandolin or the occasional harmonica, while his son, Patrick Gray Jr. of Florida, plays guitar and sings vocals. Longtime family friend Michael Burdick of Petersburgh, N.Y., plays electric drums, sings vocals and occasionally plays the bodhran, a traditional
Berkshire band finds a bit of the blarney's in vogue
By Lani Stack
FLORIDA - Irish music rings out from the not-yet-40-shades-of-green fields and woods of Florida Mountain and beyond, thanks to the James Patrick Murphy Band.

The three-man band - which sometimes numbers four or more when guest fiddlers join in - celebrates the proud character of the Emerald Isle and its people with songs of the centuries of rebellion under English rule, patriotic heroes, emigration and long sea voyages, joy and sorrow and, of course, whiskey and tobacco.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, are among the band's busiest, and today (Thursday, March 16) the group will release its third CD of Irish music, "Volume 3 of the James Patrick Murphy Band," just in time for a weekend full of the wearing o' the green.

"The songs celebrate the spirit of the Irish people after being put down for so many years," the band's senior member, Patrick Gray Sr., an avowed Irish-American, said in a recent interview. "For St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate through food, drink and music - just like with most other celebrations."

He added, "For me, the songs relate to freedom and the creation of the Republic of Ireland and getting out from under the claws of England - and until we get those last six counties free [in Ulster, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom], Ireland will never be completely free."

Gray performs lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo, mandolin or the occasional harmonica, while his son, Patrick Gray Jr. of Florida, plays guitar and sings vocals. Longtime family friend Michael Burdick of Petersburgh, N.Y., plays electric drums, sings vocals and occasionally plays the bodhran, a traditional
- Irish River Music Songs and Press