Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1932, Murphy was raised in a musical family, his parents having met as members of the local Methodist Church choir. He grew up in the nearby small town of Fulton, New York, where his grandmother and then his aunt were the church organists. Opera was also a presence in the Murphy home. He started piano lessons at the age of seven.
Murphy joined his brother's jazz dance band as the singer when a teenager, citing influences from Nat "King" Cole, June Christy, Anita O'Day, and Ella Fitzgerald. The Jazz pianist Art Tatum was also an influence.
Murphy graduated from Syracuse University in 1953, majoring in Music and Drama. University life included performing on campus and also in a club – playing piano and singing.
In 1954, Murphy moved to New York City, working part-time as an actor and singer. He appeared in productions for the Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company and a musical version for television of Casey at the Bat. Also, he twice took second place at the Apollo Theatre amateur contests.
Murphy was eventually introduced to record producer Milt Gabler, who was an artist and repertoire director (A & R) for Decca. His resulting debut recording was Meet Mark Murphy (1956), followed closely by Let Yourself Go (1957).
In 1958 Murphy moved to Los Angeles and recorded for Capitol, but returned to New York in the early '60s and recorded the album Rah! (1961) on Riverside Records, performing "Angel Eyes", a version of Horace Silver's "Doodlin'", and "Green Dolphin Street", featuring Bill Evans, Clark Terry, Urbie Green, Blue Mitchell and Wynton Kelly as accompanists. His favorite recording to date, That's How I Love the Blues, soon followed. In 1963, Murphy hit the charts across the country with his single of "Fly Me to the Moon" and was voted New Star of the Year in Down Beat Magazine's Reader's Poll.[citation needed]
In the late 1960s Murphy moved to London, England, where he worked primarily as an actor. He continued however, to cultivate his jazz audiences in Europe. He returned to the States in 1972 and began recording an average of an album a year for more than fourteen years on the Muse label. These projects - including the albums Nat King Cole Songbook Vol. I and II, Bop for Kerouac, Kerouac Then And Now, Living Room, Satisfaction Guaranteed, Beauty And the Beast and, Stolen Moments - gained numerous Grammy nominations.[citation needed] This last album contains Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" with lyrics by Murphy.
In 1984 together with Viva Brasil he recorded the album Brazil Song (Cancões do Brasil), which featured original material written by Brazilian songwriters including work by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Milton Nascimento.
In 1987, Murphy recorded Night Mood, an album of songs by Brazilian composer Ivan Lins, followed by the Grammy-nominated September Ballads on Milestone Records. Murphy has also appeared on U.F.O.'s last two releases (for Polydor Records), in which he wrote and rapped lyrics on songs composed with the group. This collaboration opened up further new audiences in the acid-jazz and hip-hop genres, demonstrating jazz's timelessness while transcending generations and styles.
In August 1997, BMG/RCA Victor released Song For The Geese, for which he has received his sixth Grammy nomination. Also in August 1997, the 32 Records label Joel Dorn and Michael Bourne released a double CD anthology Stolen and Other Moments, which features some of his recordings for the now defunct Muse label. The CD features material from the two "Kerouac" albums and a selection of "the best of Mark Murphy".
Murphy’s release Once to Every Heart (2005), on the Verve label, features sensuous ballads, where the listener can capture him singing in top form, with superb musicians and sounding better than ever. In 2007 Love is What Stays was released on Verve. Both albums were produced by German trumpeter Till Brönner.
Murphy has also collaborated with Five Corners Quintet, a modern Finnish jazz band. He appears on their albums Chasin' the Jazz Gone By (2005) and Hot Corner (2008).
In 2010 he released the independently produced CD, Never Let Me Go, on which he is supported by pianist Misha Piatigorsky, bassist Danton Boller and drummer Chris Wabich. A limited edition EP/MP3, "Beautiful Friendship: Remembering Shirley Horn" on Gearbox Records was released in 2013.
Murphy continued to tour internationally into his 80s, appearing at festivals, concerts, in jazz clubs and on television programs, throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia and Japan, as well as other places. John Bush at AllMusic.com described Murphy as "a major name in vocal jazz." A longtime resident of the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey, he died there on October 22, 2015.
My Favorite Things
Mark Murphy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
"My Favorite Things" is a song originally composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for the 1959 Broadway musical The Sound of Music. The song is sung by the lead character Maria, played by Mary Martin, during a storm that frightens the Von Trapp children. To calm them down, she sings about her favorite things which makes them forget their fears. This song has since become an iconic song that is often associated with happiness, nostalgic memories, and holiday cheer.
The lyrics of "My Favorite Things" are simple and concise, yet they evoke a lot of imagery and emotion. The first verse talks about some of Maria's favorite physical things, like raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, copper kettles, woolen mittens, and brown paper packages tied up with strings. These items are all associated with happy and comforting memories. The second verse talks about things that Maria enjoys experiencing, like cream-colored ponies, apple strudels, doorbells, sleigh bells, schnitzel, and wild geese flying under the moonlight. The final verse refers to the beauty of nature, including snowflakes, white dresses with blue sashes, and silver white winters that transform into springs. By the end of the song, Maria has created a list of her favorite things that brings joy to her life, even during difficult times.
Interestingly, "My Favorite Things" was not originally intended to be a Christmas song. It was written for a musical that premiered on Broadway in 1959, long before it became a holiday classic. In fact, the song was only included in the movie adaptation of The Sound of Music in 1965, six years after the original production. Despite this, the song has since become a beloved Christmas tune, possibly due to the imagery of snowflakes, sleigh bells, and winter wonderlands in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
I find comfort in the simple things in life, such as the sight of raindrops on roses and the softness of whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
I appreciate the feeling of holding a warm cup of tea in a bright copper kettle and the coziness of wrapping my hands in warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
The anticipation of opening a gift wrapped in a brown paper package tied up with strings adds joy to my life.
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
I enjoy the beauty of cream-colored ponies and the taste of crisp apple strudels.
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
The sounds of a doorbell ringing and sleigh bells jingling, and the taste of schnitzel with noodles, bring me happiness.
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
The sight of wild geese flying with the moon on their wings fills me with wonder and awe.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
The elegance of girls wearing white dresses with blue satin sashes uplifts my spirits.
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
The beauty of snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes brings me joy and happiness.
Silver white winters that melt into springs
I appreciate the contrast of silver white winters and the anticipation of the new beginnings that spring brings.
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
During difficult times when I feel sad or hurt, I find comfort in focusing on my favorite things, knowing that they will bring me happiness.
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
By taking time to reflect on my favorite things, I can shift my focus away from negative thoughts and feelings, and find peace and happiness instead.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DanielPerez-hy4ts
Magnificent
@sydharriet4341
The original including a wonderful tribute to all the jazz musicians of the fifties and sixties. When Richard Rodgers heard what Murphy did, he threatened to sue the record company, so they removed the chorus with all the musician tributes. Sad. Can only hear it on the original album or bootlegged CDs. The chorus was wonderful and brought tears of joy to many eyes. I know. I was a jazz host on numerous radio stations where I featured that cut.
@peterhussey-yeo9041
Syd Harriet what a pity!
@peterhussey-yeo9041
Syd Harriet big big shame
@jezjez5070
Would love to hear that. How could anyone not be happy with this beautiful version. Beats me.
@paulwickline7434
Had to buy a bit scratchy original release LP of RAH to hear his lyrics. His lyrics on this and I’ll be Seeing You are wonderful.
@davidvicari5139
I am here cause I’m looking for “...and Parker with Strings”. I am learning. I asked Mark himself in the mid 90s when he came to the Green Mill. He winced and declined to say! Now I know the rest of the story.
@Ewerb7
Mark had a remarkable career. He released many, many incredible recordings.
@IGiveYouPermission
Mark-o, so beautiful. No one like him.
@janetscreativepillow
I love this song so much. Never get tired of it. It's a classic song that makes you feel happy.