Mike Murphy (musician)

Mike Murphy
The Ambassadors
Background information
Birth name	Michael J. Murphy
Born	1946
Origin	Aurora, IL
Died	April 11, 2006( 2006 -04-11)
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, instructor, mixing engineer
Instruments	Drums

Mike Murphy (1946—2006) was an American professional musician working with the band Chicago, Yanni and Manhattan Transfer. In 1989, he was the lead drummer with the Bee Gees, on the "One For All" world tour.^[1] promoting their album "One".^[2] They performed on four continents for a total of twenty-five concerts (eleven in Europe, six in Australia, two in Japan, and six in the U.S. He also performed with them on their four-CD box set, Tales from the Brothers Gibb^[3]

Biography

Mike was born in 1946 in Aurora, IL, the son of Jim and Mary Murphy. He began making music as a youngster with his father's band. During high school he was a drummer in the Vaqueros Drum and Bugle Corps. The Vaqueros disbanded in 1963 but he was a major influence in their drum section. He was in the band at East Aurora High School and was a quarterback on their football team, graduating in 1964. After a year at Doan College in Nebraska, he joined the Navy and served as an instructor in the Navy School of Music. He returned to Aurora in the early 70s and became an instructor at the Fox Valley Raiders Drum And Bugle Corps. He also played drums in the Ambassadors Band which included Bill Mickelberg (top, center) and Andy Waterman (on right) on guitar, Dick Jess on trombone, Don Markese on the Sax.

Mike lived and worked in California for many years, then moved to Ohio where he became active in a local church. He died of a lung complication on April 11, 2006 at the age of 60.^[4][5][6]

References