User:Minnie Murphy

Pianist and singer Minnie Murphy is country, sure, but her graceful voice, which can be sassy or sultry or resigned by turns, has a bit of a jazz tinge to it that, when she's at her best, gives whatever she's singing a bright immediacy. Born in Bellingham, WA, the daughter of musicians (her father was a working musician, leading his own band, and her mother was both a singer and pianist), Murphy grew up surrounded by music and showed an aptitude for making it, as well. Soon she was getting up to sing with her father at his gigs in the local bars and clubs, while continuing to study piano with her mother, and in time mother and daughter began to write songs together. Eventually Murphy landed a steady weekend gig singing and playing piano at a local bar in Bellingham. Further inspiration came from her half-sister Jamie O'Neal, a recording artist for 1720 Entertainment, and Murphy had some pretty high profile appearances with O'Neal, including a spot on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She also continued to write songs with her family, eventually moving to Nashville, TN to try her hand at making music her career. Signed to Sony Records at the age of 19, then signed to the Montage Music Group for her debut single, Take Me to Texas, was released in 2008. In 2011, Minnie signed with the independent label 99 Matrix Records. Her first single with 99 Matrix Records was The Forbidden Hope Diamond, which was part of a 3 song EP. Her first ever full album Something Cafe was released in 2012, also on 99 Matrix Records. Minnie travels with the Funk Brothers of Motown fame. In 2011, she appeared as herself in the movie Redemption Road, singing an original Minnie Murphy song.