Noel Murphy (born 27 November 1943, died 26 November 2022) was an Irish people, Irish folk musician, actor and entertainer. His family moved to Dublin when he was seven years old. At school he was a keen actor and played drums. He was also a gifted Association Football goalkeeper, being chosen to represent Ireland Schoolboys XI.
In 1962 he moved to England to work in various jobs and began to visit folk clubs in London, where he would often sing "floor spots" as an unpaid support act. In 1964 he began his career as a professional singer and became the first resident singer at the renowned Les Cousins (music club), Les Cousins club. Here he Master of Ceremonies, compered and performed alongside many celebrated acts including Ralph McTell, Sandy Denny, Bert Jansch and many other notable musicians. He Busking, busked his way to Greece and back in 1965, his first recording being released the following year. In 1968 he was joined by young Scotland, Scottish banjo player Davey Johnstone; they toured as Murf & Shaggis for two years until they added double bass player Ron Chesterman (formerly of Strawbs) to the line-up and changed their name to Draught Porridge. Johnstone moved on to play with Magna Carta (band), Magna Carta and later became guitarist with Elton John's band, a position he still holds. He recorded on the Columbia records, Columbia, Fontana Records, Fontana, The Village Thing, Village Thing, Music for Pleasure (record label), MFP, Plant Life, and RCA labels, He now runs his own ''Fine Hairy Rope Records'' label. In June 1987, Murphy made his only appearance in the UK Singles Chart, with the song, "Murphy and the Bricks".
The song became Murphy's only Australian charting single, peaking at 82.
Murphy has appeared on over 300 television programmes and has broadcast on radio over 2,000 times. His television appearances have included two comedies with Eric Sykes for ITV and playing a navvy in ''The Gathering Seed'', on BBC Two. His one-man shows have appeared on Grampian Television, Grampian, Trinidad, Southern Television, Southern and Danish television.
His singing career was interrupted for five years from 1982, due to an accident in which he swallowed broken glass, which had found its way into the beer served to him at a charity dinner in a Isle of Man, Manx hotel. He retired in 2005 due to health reasons.
Outside of his work, he supported Rugby Union, rugby and Gaelic games, and played golf; he played for both Surrey and Middlesex during the 1970s, and has partnered Ian Woosnam on BBC Television's ''Pro-Celebrity Golf'' as well as taking part in many charity matches.
Conviction
In April 2018, he admitted three incidents of indecent assault against a girl in North Wales during the 1970s and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Selected discography
* ''A Session'' (1997) – Live recording at TwickFolk, Twickenham Folk Club with The Mahogany Gaspipes.
* ''The Quality of Murphy'' (2005) – Forty track compilation album covering his work from 1966 to 2002.
References
External links
Noel Murphy's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Noel
Irish folk singers
Living people
1943 births
Musicians from County Kerry
Irish folk musicians
Irish expatriates in the United Kingdom