Murray Porter

"about Me" "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 for 3 years and they were 2005 JUNO nominees for their release ‘Full Circle’, for which he wrote 7 songs, and winners of ‘Best Blues Recording’ at the 2004 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. The Pappy Johns Band were also the second Canadian band ever invited to the prestigious Chicago Blues Festival in 2003, in its 20 year history. They also traveled to France in November 2005 to perform at Blues-sur-Seine in Mantes-la-Jolie, just west of Paris. The boys also wowed them at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and FestiBlues, both in Montreal in 2004.
Murray is now concentrating on a solo career in British Columbia. Murray has been compared to the likes of Dr. John, Joe Cocker and Delbert McClinton. He is a self-taught, singer, songwriter and piano player, who is one of Canada's best kept secrets!
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.
On September 16, 2007, Murray was the opening solo act for blues legends ETTA JAMES & HER ROOTS BAND, and B.B. KING at the Tulalip Amphitheatre in Washington State.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“When I was about 11 years old I remember listening to blues radio under the covers at home late at night. This is when I first heard ‘The Thrill is Gone’ by B.B. King, and I was hooked! So to open for the Artist that started me on my blues journey is like a dream come true”.
Murray’s performance received thunderous applause, and he got to meet and talk with both Etta and B.B. In fact, Murray was invited on to B.B.’s bus after the show with his family and friends, and it happened to be B.B.’s 82nd birthday that night. Murray’s photo with B.B. is now one of his prized possessions.
Just Recently…
Upcoming on February 26, 2009, Murray will have 2 songs on a blues/folk compilation called “Indian Reservation Blues” released by DixieFrog Records in France.
This past year on October 22, 2008, Murray was a guest performer with the legendary band, THE FUNK BROTHERS at the Dreamcatcher Fund Gala in Hamilton, Ontario. Murray was one of four singers invited to sing with these Motown legends!
In the summer of 2008, Murray performed at one of Canada’s most prestigious folk festivals, the Vancouver Folk Festival on July 19th as a solo performer. He also participated in two workshops with his peers from the Canadian blues scene, including Faith Nolan, Harrison Kennedy, Bill Bourne, Madagascar Slim, Dawn Tyler Watson & Paul Deslauriers, Kevin Breit, and T-Model Ford.
On September 16, 2007, Murray was the opening solo act for blues legends ETTA JAMES & HER ROOTS BAND, and B.B. KING at the Tulalip Amphitheatre in Washington State. In his own words, “When I was about 11 years old I remember listening to blues radio under the covers at home late at night. This is when I first heard ‘The Thrill is Gone’ by B.B. King, and I was hooked! So to open for the Artist that started me on my blues journey is like a dream come true”.
Murray’s performance received thunderous applause, and he got to meet and talk with both Etta and B.B. In fact, Murray was invited on to B.B.’s bus after the show with his family and friends, and it happened to be B.B.’s 82nd birthday that night. Murray’s photo with B.B. is now one of his prized possessions.
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.
IN 2008:
All solo performances, unless stated otherwise: • Assembly of First Nations Christmas Gala, Ottawa, Ontario December 11 • Seneca Casino Gala, Niagara Falls, New York Nov. 14 • Dreamcatcher Fund Gala, Hamilton, Ontario October 22, with The Funk Brothers • Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Whistler, B.C. August 31 – September 3 • Empire Landmark Hotel-Cloud Nine, Vancouver, June 13 & 14 • North American Indigenous Games, Cowichan, Vancouver Island, August 5 • Vancouver Folk Festival, July 19 & 20 (Solo on the 19th, and jammin’ on the 20th) • Musicfest, Alert Bay, B.C., July 27 • Crabfest, Gingolx, Kincolith, B.C. July 4 • National Aboriginal Day, Richmond, B.C., June 21 • Industry Council for Aboriginal Business Gala Dinner, Vancouver, June 19 • The Yale Hotel – with Blues Power, Sibel Thrasher, Gary Comeau & Murray Porter, Vancouver, B.C., May 23 & 24 • Haisla Days, Kitamaat Village, B.C., May 30 (Solo) • Pender Harbour Blues Festival, June 7 & 8 (Solo and workshop on June 7; blues jam on June 8) • 7th Generation Gala - First Nations Education Steering Committee, Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, B.C., April 24 • Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations VIP Reception for Health & Social Conference, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan March 10 • West Coast Rez Bluez at The Yale, Vancouver, B.C. February 13 • The Blues Underground Network, Treasure Cove Casino, Prince George, B.C., Feb. 15-16 • Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, Hogansburg, New York, February 29 & March 1• Rez Bluez TV second season, appeared on 4 of 13 shows, also wrote theme song. Murray performs in the Grand Finale on Sat. May 31st on APTN.
IN 2007:
CORPORATE EVENTS:
• Assembly of First Nations Christmas Gala, Ottawa, Ontario, December 13
• Aboriginal Mother Centre Christmas Gala, Vancouver, B.C., December 10
• Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation Gala Dinner, Victoria Conference Centre, British Columbia, October 10 & 11
• Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Gala Dinner, Sheraton Wall Centre Vancouver, September 25
• Special performance for the Maori King and Queen from New Zealand, on a private dinner cruise in Kelowna, British Columbia, June 8
In 2006 & 2007 in Vancouver, he's performed at the Aboriginal Day Celebrations; the Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Awards; and ..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, Canada’s 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 high definition, and 5.1 surround sound, is now on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, SUN-TV and BRAVO-TV (music only) in Canada...HOPE YOU CAN TUNE IN !!
****THE SECOND SEASON OF REZ BLUEZ IS NOW ON THE AIR ON THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK IN CANADA EVERY SATURDAY STARTING AT 4 PM/PT & 7 PM/ET. FOR MORE INFO: www.myspace.com/rezblueztv OR [email protected]
REZ BLUEZ WORKSHOPS: Murray also participated in Rez Bluez workshops with Elaine Bomberry which explored the Native influence on the formation of the early blues at Planet IndigenUS, Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, at Blues sur Seine, Mantes-la-Jolie, France, and at the ..Edge of the World Festival' in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia.
: NIA: WEH TO THESE FABULOUS ABORIGINAL FASHION DESIGNERS WHO HAVE GIFTED ME WITH THEIR BEAUTIFUL SHIRTS : - Tammy Beauvais www.tammybeauvais.com
- Dorothy Grant www.dorothygrant.com
- Tony Hunt www.tonyhuntclothing.com
- Denise Brillon www.artifaax.com
- Eva Lizotte www.kihiw.com
FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT: ELAINE BOMBERRY [email protected]