MINNIE MURPHY
With just a keyboard and her coolly beautiful voice, Minnie Murphy can captivate a room and hold an audience in her spell, taking them on an entertaining voyage they'll not soon forget. Though barely in her 20's, the enchanting singer possesses a grace and talent that belies her young years, and a confidence that definitely radiates whenever she takes center stage.She no doubt developed that confidence growing up in a family full of performers, where she was introduced to the music business practically from birth. Father Jimmy Murphy is a talented musician who helmed his own band for years in New Zealand before moving to the States and meeting Minnie's mother, who also happened to be a singer and classical pianist.
When Minnie wasn't outside hiking or riding her bike on the beautiful outdoor trails of Bellingham, WA where she grew up, she was taking piano lessons from her mother and being exposed to all types of music. Minnie soon found she had a real aptitude for the instrument and spent hours every day tinkering away at the keyboard and constructing melodies on her own. Her mother was soon introducing her to classical music and jazz greats like Nina Simone, and Minnie found she was drawn to it all, especially the great vocalists. She enjoyed Bjork and Sarah McLachlan as much as she did Diamond Rio (one of her favorite bands), and was surrounded by all types of music from the time she was small. “Music has always been a part of my life, all types of music. In my piano lessons I studied Classical music. I also liked new age music too and I loved Mariah Carey. I'd sing her music all the time. I also love Aretha Franklin and she was a big influence for me as a vocalist. I feel like you can listen to Aretha and it can change your life, you know! My dad would also play country music and classic rock and call me up on stage to sing or play piano. I was really exposed to all types of music and grew to love it all.” But it was country music, with its lyrical and melodic content, that Minnie gravitated toward most. As Minnie became more proficient on piano, she and her mother started writing songs together and Minnie expanded her musical talent even further.
Minnie no doubt also found inspiration from one of her older half sisters, Capitol recording artist, Jamie O'Neal. “Ever since I was a kid I always looked up to Jamie…we always spent our Christmases together as a family and she lived with us when I was really small. I have three half sisters and they're all very talented,” quips Murphy.
As Minnie grew up, Jamie also called on her to perform with her for some high-profile gigs like the “Grand Ole Opry”, and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” as well as "The Emeril Live Show." Recently, Minnie performed at the 4th Annual Country Music Festival in Athens, Greece and the Merritt Mountain Music Festival in Canada. Her debut project on Montage Music Group is due out spring of 2008 and she is eagerly anticipating the chance to share her own brand of country music with the world.