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Neil James Murray (born 1956) is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter-guitarist and writer. He was a founding member of the
Warumpi Band Warumpi Band () were an Australian country and Aboriginal rock group which formed in the outback settlement of Papunya, Northern Territory, in 1980. The original line-up was George Burarrwanga on vocals and didgeridoo, Gordon Butcher Tjapanang ...
(1980–88, 1995–2000) which was the first major influential
Aboriginal rock Indigenous or Aboriginal rock is a style of music which mixes rock music with the instrumentation and singing styles of Indigenous peoples. Two countries with prominent Aboriginal rock scenes are Australia and Canada. Australia In Australia, A ...
group with mostly
Indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention *Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band *Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...
members. Murray was recognised as one of Australia's foremost songwriters at the APRA Awards of 1995 by winning Song of the Year for " My Island Home". Murray has had a solo career since 1989 and had issued eight studio albums by 2014. Murray regularly performed throughout Australia, either with a backing band, The Rainmakers, or solo. He undertook a series of performances with
Shane Howard Shane Michael Howard (born 26 January 1955) is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist, he was the mainstay of folk rock group Goanna (1977–85, 1998) which had hit singles with " Solid Rock" (September 1982, No. 3) and "Let the F ...
(ex-
Goanna A goanna is any one of several species of lizards of the genus '' Varanus'' found in Australia and Southeast Asia. Around 70 species of ''Varanus'' are known, 25 of which are found in Australia. This varied group of carnivorous reptiles ranges ...
), as 2songmen from 2006 to 2007. A similar set of gigs, One of those Tunes, occurred with
Jim Moginie James Moginie (born 18 May 1956) is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he is a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter. Career In addition to Midnight Oil, Moginie has work ...
(
Midnight Oil Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by ...
) from mid-2013 to early 2014.


Biography

Neil James Murray, was born in 1956 in Ararat and raised on a farm near
Lake Bolac Lake Bolac is a town in the Western District region of Victoria, Australia. The town is on the shores of Lake Bolac, and the Glenelg Highway passes through the town. At the 2021 census, Lake Bolac and the surrounding area had a population of ...
in Western Victoria. His paternal great-great-grandfather was driven out of his home in Scotland by the
Highland Clearances The Highland Clearances ( gd, Fuadaichean nan Gàidheal , the "eviction of the Gaels") were the evictions of a significant number of tenants in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, mostly in two phases from 1750 to 1860. The first phase resulte ...
and arrived in Australia in 1848. His grandfather showed him "blackfella stones" (remnants of indigenous artefacts including grindstones and axe heads) of the local Tjapwurrung tribe. He later wondered about the fate of the land's traditional owners. His family's farm raised sheep and crops until the mid-1970s. As a tertiary student, Murray studied art in
Ballarat Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands (Victoria), Central Highlands of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Ballarat had a population of 116,201, making it the third largest city in Victoria. Estimated resid ...
and Melbourne. In 1978 he started travelling through Australia, and by 1980 he moved to
Papunya Papunya ( Pintupi-Luritja: ''Warumpi'') is a small Indigenous Australian community roughly northwest of Alice Springs (Mparntwe) in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is known as an important centre for Contemporary Indigenous Australian art ...
(about 240 km north-west of
Alice Springs Alice Springs ( aer, Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, the name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (''née'' Al ...
) where he worked as a teacher, truck driver and outstation worker, both there and at Kintore (about 530 km west of Alice Springs). In June 2011 Murray described his earlier journey: Murray, on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, became a founding member of the
Warumpi Band Warumpi Band () were an Australian country and Aboriginal rock group which formed in the outback settlement of Papunya, Northern Territory, in 1980. The original line-up was George Burarrwanga on vocals and didgeridoo, Gordon Butcher Tjapanang ...
alongside Aboriginal members, Sammy Jabanangka Butcher on guitar and bass guitar; his brother, Gordon Jabanangka Butcher on drums; and George Rurrambu (born Kumanjayi Rurrambu II Burrarrawanga aka George Djilaynga) on lead vocals and
didgeridoo The didgeridoo (; also spelt didjeridu, among other variants) is a wind instrument, played with vibrating lips to produce a continuous drone while using a special breathing technique called circular breathing. The didgeridoo was developed by ...
. The Warumpi Band were pioneers of Aboriginal rock music and with Murray as a member they released two albums, ''Big Name, No Blankets'' (April 1985) and ''Go Bush!'' (April 1987). They toured widely, including the Blackfella/Whitefella Tour through outback Australia with
Midnight Oil Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by ...
in 1986. The tour is named for Warumpi Band's 1985 single, "Blackfella/Whitefella", which was co-written by Murray and lead singer, George Rrurrambu . Another single, written by Murray for the band to perform, was " My Island Home" (1987). By the end of 1988 Murray had left the group and relocated to Sydney. Murray launched his solo career and by 2014 had released eight studio albums, three books, and one CD of spoken poetry. His debut solo album, ''Calm and Crystal Clear'' was issued in April 1989 on
Festival Records Festival Records (later known as Festival Mushroom Records) was an Australian recording and publishing company founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1952 and operated until 2005. Festival was a wholly owned subsidiary of News Limited from 1961 to ...
' Infinity label. Murray described its sound as "outback rock with a slab of transcontinental drivin' thrown in". It was produced by Mark Moffatt (
Mondo Rock Mondo Rock are an Australian rock band, formed in November 1976 in Melbourne, Victoria. Singer-songwriter Ross Wilson founded the band, following the split of his previous band Daddy Cool. Guitarist Eric McCusker, who joined in 1980, wrote man ...
,
Eurogliders Eurogliders are a band formed in 1980 in Perth, Western Australia, which included Grace Knight on vocals, Bernie Lynch on guitar and vocals, and Amanda Vincent on keyboards. * First edition (online copy): * Second edition: In 1984, Eurogli ...
, Jenny Morris) and Murray used session musicians including Midnight Oil's
Peter Gifford Peter Gifford (born 5 April 1955), sometimes known as "Giffo," is an Australian musician. From 1980 until 1987, he played bass guitar, Chapman Stick and sang backing vocals for Australian rock band Midnight Oil. Midnight Oil Gifford is credi ...
on bass guitar and Andy Travers from
the Happening Thang The Happening Thang was an Australian country pop group formed in 1984 and the founding members were Andrew Travers, Catherine Wearne, Rose Pearse, Stuart Crysell and David Lennon. The band's line-up changed by the time they released their firs ...
on drums. In February of the following year ''
The Canberra Times ''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times. History ''The Canberra Times'' was launched in ...
'' Mike Jackson felt that Murray "does belong to the current wave of new country music that's sweeping the land, courtesy of the likes of The Flying Emus and ... Joe Sun. However, his songs have definite folk overtones to them". Neil Murray and The Rainmakers were formed to tour in support of ''Calm and Crystal Clear'', with an initial line-up of Murray on lead vocals and lead guitar; James Cruikshank on keyboards and guitar (ex-Widdershins); Bill Heckenberg on drums; and Alex Hodgson on bass guitar. The group toured Australia before Murray took a four-month break, he reassembled The Rainmakers in mid-1990 which supported Midnight Oil's tour of Australia. By that time the line-up were Murray and Heckenberg with Bill Jacobi on bass guitar (ex-Warumpi Band); and Russell Nelson on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals (ex-
Matt Finish Matt Finish are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in mid-1979 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Moffitt (1956–2003) and drummer, composer and producer John Prior (musician), John Prior. The 1981 line-up of Moffitt, Prior, Rich ...
). By 1992 Murray had added Christine Anu to The Rainmakers, initially as a backing singer, he asked her to take on lead vocals for his track, "My Island Home". Murray's second solo album, ''These Hands'', appeared in July 1993 and was co-produced by Moffatt,
Jim Moginie James Moginie (born 18 May 1956) is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he is a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter. Career In addition to Midnight Oil, Moginie has work ...
(keyboardist and guitarist of Midnight Oil) and Angelique Cooper. By that time Anu had left to pursue her solo career. In June 1995 she recorded a cover version of "My Island Home", on her debut album, '' Stylin' Up''. That version was named the APRA Song of the Year at the APRA Awards for Murray as its songwriter and Anu as performer. The Anu version became an unofficial anthem and she performed it during the closing ceremony of the
Sydney 2000 Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
. In the following year it was listed in
APRA Top 30 Australian songs APRA's Top 30 Australian songs was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 2001, to celebrate its 75th anniversary. A panel of 100 music personalities were asked to list the "ten best and most significant Austral ...
of all time. Murray's second book, ''Sing for Me, Countryman'', appeared in 1993 which was critically reviewed by those watching the career trajectory of Murray (and Warupi Band) as being ... a thinly disguised autobiography ... . As fiction Murray, could use his word smithing as he pleased knowing the rules of offending would not be advanced on him as he sought acknowledgement as poet, author, composer and reconciliation whisperer. By that year he had returned to the Lake Bolac area where he had bought a small farm block, and worked with the local Tjapwurrung members to try to learn more of their culture. Although he also spent time living in the Northern Territory. The book was submitted for the
Miles Franklin Literary Award The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–19 ...
of 1994 but was not short-listed. When in Victoria, Murray contacted neighbouring
Gunditjmara The Gunditjmara or Gunditjamara, also known as Dhauwurd Wurrung, are an Aboriginal Australian people of southwestern Victoria. They are the traditional owners of the areas now encompassing Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Woolsthorpe and Portland. Their ...
people, Uncle Banjo Clarke (an elder) and
Archie Roach Archibald William Roach (8 January 1956 – 30 July 2022) was an Australian singer, songwriter and Aboriginal Australian, Aboriginal activist. Often referred to as "Uncle Archie", Roach was a Gunditjmara and Western Bundjalung people, Bundjalu ...
(a musician). Murray was mentored by Clarke as he tried to speak and sing in the Tjapwurrung language. In 1995 Murray, Rurrambu and Sammy Butcher reconvened Warumpi Band with Heckenberg on drums to undertake a European tour. A new album, ''Too Much Humbug'', appeared in April of the next year, which
Ian McFarlane Ian McFarlane (born 1959) is an Australian music journalist, music historian and author, whose best known publication is the '' Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop'' (1999), which was updated for a second edition in 2017. As a journalist ...
described as having "slicker production values than either of its predecessors". Murray also issued a solo album, ''Dust'', in May that year using guest musicians Chris Abrahams (of
The Necks The Necks are an Australian avant-garde jazz trio formed in 1987 by founding mainstays Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar, and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass. They play i ...
),
David Bridie David Ross Hope Bridie is an Australian contemporary musician and songwriter. He was a founding mainstay member of World music band Not Drowning, Waving which released six studio albums to critical acclaim. He also formed a chamber pop group, ...
(of
not drowning, waving Not Drowning, Waving (styled as not drowning, waving) were a musical group formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1983 by David Bridie and John Phillips. Their music combined elements of rock and roll, rock, ambient music and world music; their lyrics ...
), and Moginie; as well as backing vocals from Anu, Roach; and Sally Dastey and Amy Saunders from Tiddas. It was co-produced by Murray and Moginie for
ABC Music ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
's ''Songwriter Series''. Murray was the subject of a documentary, "Native Born", broadcast on ''
Australian Story ''Australian Story'' is a national weekly current affairs and documentary style television series which is broadcast on ABC Television. It is produced specifically by the ABC News and Current Affairs Department. The program first aired on 29 ...
'' for
ABC Television ABC Television most commonly refers to: *ABC Television Network of the American Broadcasting Company, United States, or *ABC Television (Australian TV network), a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia ABC Television or ABC ...
in April of that year. Murray performed intermittently with Warumpi Band until 2000 while mainly working on his solo career with his backing band, The Rainmakers. His fourth solo album, ''The Wondering Kind'', appeared in February 2000, which was self-financed and self-produced. By that time he was based in Darwin, but had recorded the album in Sydney during periodic visits over a year. For the album he worked with Heckenberg on drums and percussion; and Cotco Lovit on electric, acoustic and upright bass guitar. Other musicians included Stephen Teakle, Brendan Williams, Seamus (aka Jim) Moginie, Lucy Eames, and strings by Coda. Seth Jordan of ''Rhythms'' magazine opined that the "apathetic music industry seemed unsure whether to categorise Murray's solo work as rock, folk or country, despite critical acclaim", while his live performances "continue to attract a dedicated audience amongst those who appreciate truly well crafted songs". In May 2003 Murray issued his next solo album, ''Going the Distance'', which Martin Flanagan of ''
The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'' compared to the previous album " riefis also the subject of several songs on his new album... but the music is gentler now, lighter in touch". The album was co-produced by Murray and Moginie, Flanagan contrasted Murray's depiction of
Tom Wills Thomas Wentworth Wills (19 August 1835 – 2 May 1880) was an Australian sportsman who is credited with being Australia's first cricketer of significance and a founder of Australian rules football. Born in the British penal colony of New ...
from the track, "Tom Wills Would", with his own understanding in ''The Call'' (1998) – a historical novel of the Australian sportsman: "I saw a man destroyed by the weight of contradictions bearing down on him, caught as he was between black and white culture. Murray sees a man who acted from choice throughout, even choosing a self-inflicted death ... His Tom Wills is the man who supports the local team when no one else will, who won't abide being dropped from the team ... He's the man who won't bootlick to authority". Also in 2003 Murray recorded a live version of "My Island Home" at a gig at Richmond's Corner Hotel. By May 2005 Murray had released his first compilation album, ''About Time: A Song Collection'', which consists of 2× CD with one disc a "best of" collection from his previous studio albums and the other disc had "live and rare" tracks, including his 2003 version of "My Island Home". It appeared on his own label, Island Home Music, and was distributed by Universal Music Australia. In August 2006 Murray performed as 2songmen with
Shane Howard Shane Michael Howard (born 26 January 1955) is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist, he was the mainstay of folk rock group Goanna (1977–85, 1998) which had hit singles with " Solid Rock" (September 1982, No. 3) and "Let the F ...
(ex-
Goanna A goanna is any one of several species of lizards of the genus '' Varanus'' found in Australia and Southeast Asia. Around 70 species of ''Varanus'' are known, 25 of which are found in Australia. This varied group of carnivorous reptiles ranges ...
), a fellow singer-songwriter-guitarist, at the Darwin Festival. The performance was recorded for a live album, ''2songmen – Shane Howard & Neil Murray Live in Darwin'', which was issued later that year. The pair also toured together into 2007. Murray's sixth studio album, ''Overnighter'', was issued in November 2007 by ABC Music. It was inspired by meeting fellow travellers at various roadhouses throughout Australia "when you are that strung out and tired, there is an unspoken camaraderie with those with whom you share the night and the distance. You might not speak but there is a kinship. It's not too hard to imagine their story". He toured eastern Australia in support of the album during May to June 2008. ''Witness'', his seventh studio album, followed in February 2010. A track, "One of Those Tunes", was co-written by Murray with Moginie. Michelle Slater of Australian Musician Network described Murray's performance styles in November 2012 as consisting of "indie rock, folk, jazz and country swing." She continues, "He made this gig unique with such an array of songs and stories. Upon leaving the venue, my aural senses were mixed with the reminiscent smells of a dripping tropical night and the red dust of the central desert". Murray and Moginie toured from mid-2013 to early 2014 under the banner of One of those Tunes. Murray's eighth studio album, ''Bring Thunder and Rain'', was issued by May 2014.


Bibliography


Published works

* * * *2009 ''Native Born'' (song lyrics) *2010 ''My Island Home'' *2012 ''Blackfella Whitefella''


Short stories

*"Home and Away", ''The Bulletin'' 1983 *"Boomerangs", ''Going Down Swinging'' 1983 *"Two Stones", ''Inprint'' 1983 *"The Risks of Two-up Motorcycling", ''Australian Short Stories'' 1987 *"One Last Hitch", ''The Edge'' 1989 *"Unmarked Graves", included in ''Banjo Clarke's Wisdom Man'', Penguin Australia, 2003


Articles

* "A Guide to Boomerang Buying", ''On the Street'' 1983 * "Turning up the Stars Full Blast", ''Australian Playboy'', 1984 * "Over the back fence", ''Follow me Gentleman'' 1986 * "He's My Brother", ''The Australian Way'', July 1989 * "The Getting of Banjos Wisdom", ''The Age'', 25 April 2000 * "Was True Blue a Blackfella?", ''The Age'', 6 July 2002 * "Gunnedah Dreaming", ''The Age Review'', 3 July 2004 * "No Flowers", ''The Monthly'', 3 August 2005 * "How Many Sleeps?", ''The Monthly'', January 2006 * "A Healing Walk", published 2009 in the ''University of Portland Magazine'', Vol 28, No 2 *


Stage plays

* ''King for This Place'', commissioned by Deckchair Theatre, Fremantle, Western Australia, 1999


Discography


Studio albums


Live albums


Compilation albums


References

;General * Note: Archived n-linecopy has limited functionality. ;Specific


External links

* *
"Neil Murray, Songwriter, Performer, Novelist, 1993"
photo by Jacqueline Mitelman, held by
National Library of Australia The National Library of Australia (NLA), formerly the Commonwealth National Library and Commonwealth Parliament Library, is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the ''National Library Act 1960'' for "mainta ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Neil 1956 births APRA Award winners Australian musicians Australian people of Scottish descent Australian poets Living people People from Ararat, Victoria