Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Eric Paul-Hus, Montreal Blues Society “My discovery of the Blues Summit showcases is The Pappy Johns Band, along with astonishing vocals from band member, Murray Porter, he blew me away”. - Montreal Blues Society
Liz Sykes, President, Ottawa Blues Society “Murray Porter and Faron Johns are two of the best voices on the Canadian blues scene” - Ottawa Blues Society
In 1993 the Toronto Blues Society fulfilled a desire to connect with the Aboriginal community in the area by staging an event in conjunction with long time member, Elaine Bomberry, called "Real Rez Blues". The event was a massive success and the venue overflowed with enthusiastic fans of a wide range of artists. The TBS encouraged Elaine to carry on the concept and artists have continued to use the "Rez Blues" model to showcase, introduce themselves to blues and urban audiences, and increasingly raise profile. The relationship of key figures in the native blues scene like Murray Porter, Jani Lauzon, Ronnie Douglas, Derek Miller, Faron Johns, Pappy Johns Band and many others have begun to reflect the strong interest from Aboriginal artists, with the blues. With the release of "Skin Tight Blues" and the exposure in Native and mainstream media, Native identity will continue to grow and earn respect with blues fans around the world in the months and years to come.
- Letter of support
Gary Kendal, Silver Dollar Booker, Bass player/Downchild Blues Band,
Rez Bluez began as a Toronto Blues Society event a dozen or so years ago. The plan was to showcase a few Aboriginal blues artists that were beginning to get some notice on the Canadian Blues Scene. I don’t think anyone new then how large and supportive the audience was, and how many great blues artists were ready to break out of that community. With the guidance and direction of Elaine Bomberry and Rez Bluez Productions artists like The Pappy Johns Band, Murray Porter, Ronnie Douglas and The Soul Kings have proven they deserve world class attention. - Letter of support
Best Song: Native American Murray Porter `1492, Who Found Who?’
`Hats off to Barry Dolins for: …bringing in relatively unknown but worthy talents in the Pappy Johns Band, whom he heard in Toronto at the Blues Summit”
- Rick Schneider, Editor Blues Beat Magazine
For years Murray Porter has been one of my favouite artists anywhere. He can play the keyboards; sing and most of all, can write lyrics with the best of them. Then a few years ago I got to hear the Pappy Johns band for the first time, featuring Faron Johns on lead vocals, and I was knocked out once again. Even though the Pappy Johns band have been on the scene for twenty-five years, the formers members have reunited to create a Full Circle with this CD release. Faron and Murray and the musicians in their band hale from the Six Nations. Either Murray or Pappy wrote all the songs on the album. The band is a killer too, with Joe Mahfoud on vocals and guitar, Don Powless on bass and Oren Doxtator drums and percussion.
To hear these amazing vocalists on one recording is truly a Blues treat, so lets break into the tracks. The first song penned by Murray, Make Your Mind Up, has Faron, Joe and Murray all takin‚ turns on the verses. Faron sings his own composition around the topic, Playing Me. Murray’s slow song has him singin’ about My Baby’s Crazy and it’s all meant for him. He takes over lead vocal once again on his song Trouble in the Wigwam with a nice guitar solo from Joe. The lyrics of Murray’s tune Time Will Come, sung by Faron, really hit me. The tempo really rocks with Faron singing his song Third Degree and Joe takin’ another great solo on guitar. The pace drops down once again with Murray carryin‚ the lead vocal on another song he wrote, Little White Lies with Murray, Faron and Joe doin‚ the chorus background. The groove picks up again with some Blues from Murray on Meat on the Bone. Joe plays the slide guitar with Faron’s vocal on his number Time to Believe. A soulful and funky feel is givin‚ to Murray’s Let’s Do. Ending the CD is Faron singing a haunting tune he wrote, Through the Door.
Incredible singing, lyrics and playing make this record a have to have.
On the back of the CD case it states, “Finest in First Nations Blues”, and I can’t argue with that description. I hope to see the Pappy Johns Band with Murray Porter live again soon. Plus other great First Nation Blues bands at one of Elaine Bomberry’s regular Rez Bluez presentations in the near future. Things do come Full Circle.
Sail on...
Eddy B - www.ejazznews.com - Eddy B (Brake) Blueheart Archive
Discography
- "Aboriginal Blues Live @ The Yale", `Colours', and `Crying in my Sleep' by Murray Porter - June 21/06 Vancouver, B.C.
- Blues sur Seine 2005 Festival compilation-France `Make Your Mind Up by Murray Porter with The Pappy Johns Band
- Toronto Blues Society 20th Anniversary compilation 2005 `Meat on the Bone written by Murray Porter, with The Pappy Johns Band, Toronto Blues Society, May 2005
- Full Circle The Pappy Johns Band, Independent, November 2003
- Skin Tight Blues A First Peoples Blues Compilation Sweet Grass Records/EMI Music Canada, July 15, 2002 `Colours written by Murray Porter
- "1492, Who Found Who?" EMI/First Nations Music, 1995
- The Legends Project: I Am An Eagle First Nations Music, 1996 (recited legend and sang Heart of the Eagle) Aboriginal musicians compilation of Stories, Legends and Song
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
"He's a `red man, singing the black mans' blues, living in a white man's world! (from Colours)'. MURRAY PORTER is Mohawk, Turtle clan, born and raised on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in southern Ontario, North America. Through his blues he tells the Aboriginal side of history with a mixture of country, blues and humor. He's travelled the world for 30 years spreading his unique style of foot-stomping, hand clapping, NATIVE PIANO BLUES!!"
He started playing music as a teenager, in bars and nightclubs throughout Ontario and Western New York. Murray performed with THE PAPPY JOHNS BAND (www.myspace.com/pappyjohnsband) for 3 years, and is now concentrating on a solo career in British Columbia. He has been compared to the likes of Dr. John, Joe Cocker and Delbert McClinton. Murray is a self-taught, singer, songwriter and piano player, who's spent the last 30 years playing the blues.
In 1994, he launched a solo career. In 1995, Murray recorded his first solo album "1492, Who Found Who?" for First Nations Music (distributed by EMI), and toured Canada, the U.S., Australia, Egypt, Israel, Germany, and Haiti.
NEWS FLASH!!! Murray will be the opening act (solo keyboards and vocals) for ETTA JAMES and B.B. KING at the Tulalip Amphitheatre, Marysville, Washington, on September 16, 2007.
In 2006 in Vancouver, he's performed at the Aboriginal Day Celebrations, the Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Awards and at `An Evening with Susan Aglukark' with Don Burnstick, Eaglesong Dancers, and Murray performed solo on a baby grand piano centre stage! He also performs regularly with the All-Star Blues Review, and Blues Power at the Yale Blues Club, and at Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Club in Yaletown.
On August 18 & 20th, 2006, Murray performed at the "Out of Doors Festival", at the LINCOLN CENTER in New York City at their `23rd Annual Roots of American Music Festival', on a 10 foot grand piano, with Sipho Kunene on drums. Also performing were Blues Greats, Mavis Staples, Guy Davis, Larry Johnson and Bettye LaVette, to name a few fabulous blues folks performing. Also, on August 17th, at "Native Sounds Downtown" at the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, in New York City.
Murray reunited with his fellow Six Nations blues musicians, The Pappy Johns Band, for one recording Full Circle. Together, they not only recorded a critically acclaimed album `Full Circle, but also have performed in prestigious concerts and festivals throughout Canada, the U.S., and a blues festival in France. They performed at Blues sur Seine in Mantes-la-Jolie, France in November 2005, making their European Festival debut.
AWARDS:
With The Pappy Johns Band,`Full Circle' was nominated for a 2005 JUNO Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year. The band won Best Blues Album at the 2004 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards for Full Circle, in November 2004. In 1999 he won `Songwriter of the Year at the first ever Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. Also a finalist in the 2003 International Songwriting Competition for blues, and was a nominee for Songwriter of the Year, for the 2004 Maple Blues Awards, Canadas national blues awards.
REZ BLUEZ TV:
Murray also made his television hosting and writing debut on Rez Bluez TV, a 13 part performance series broadcasting in 2005/2006 on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN www.aptn.ca), SUN-TV (http://suntv.canoe.ca) and the BRAVO Canada channel. In addition, he wrote and performed the theme song for the series.
In March 2007, Murray also performed and was also on the writing team for season 2 of REZ BLUEZ TV. He played new original songs, plus some of his Rez classic tunez, accompanied by the Helen Duguay Band. In addition for Rez Bluez 2, Murray also performed with HELEN DUGUAY, SHAKTI HAYES, and KEITH SECOLA. REZ BLUEZ 2 was shot in HD high definition, and 5.1 surround sound, and will be coming back to the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and SUN-TV in Canada, in the Fall of 2007...WATCH FOR IT!!
REZ BLUEZ WORKSHOPS:
Murray also participated in Rez Bluez workshops which explored the Native influence on the formation of the early blues at Planet IndigenUS, Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, and at Blues sur Seine, Mantes-la-Jolie, France. www.sonicbids.com/murrayporter
SOLO CONCERTS & T.V. APPEARANCES:
All-Star Blues Revue & Blues Power at the Yale, Vancouver, B.C. 2006-7
`An Evening with Susan Aglukark & Friends'; Don Burnstick, Eaglesong Dancers, North Vancouver, B.C., November 30/06
Pow Wow Cruise to Mexico, September 25-28/06
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts "Out of Doors Festival" for their `23rd Annual Roots of American Music Festival', New York City, August 18 & 20, 2006
National Museum of the American Indian, New York City, August 17
Nanaimo Blues Festival, B.C., August 13, 2006
MusicFest in Alert Bay, British Columbia, July 23, 2006
All-Star Blues Review with Jerry Doucette & Joani Bye, The Yale,
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